BT 430 
.N3 



THE 



GEEAT DAY OF ATONEMENT: 

OK, 
ON THE 

LAST TWEXTY-FOUR HOURS OF THE SUFFERINGS 
AND DEATH OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR 
JESUS CHRIST. 



TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF 

CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH NEBEIlJNi 

EDITED BY 

MRS. COLIN MACKENZIE, 

AUTHOR OF "DELHI, OR SIX YEARS IN INDIA," ETC. 



BOSTON: 
aOULI> AND LINCOLN, 

59 WASHINGTON STREET. 
NEW YORK: SHELDON, BLAKEMAN & CO. 
CINCINNATI: GEORGE S. BLANCHARD. 
1 85 9. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by 
GOULD AND LINCOLN, 
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of Massachusetts. 



EL-ECTROTTPED BY 

W. F. DRAPER, ANDOVER, MASS. 

PRINTED BY 

GEORGE C RAND & AVERY. 



The following Work was written by 
the daughter of the honored Pastor 
Rambach about the middle of the last 
century. It was out of print and al- 
most unknown when one of the stu- 
dents of the Missionary Institution^ at 
Basle^ found a coj)y in the possession 
of an aged Christian woman from 
"Wirtemberg, residing in the colony 



IV PREFACE. 

of Helenendorf, to the southward of 
the Caucasus. She valued it so highly 
that nothing but the hope of its be- 
ing blessed to others could induce her 
to part from it. The young student 
brought it to Basle, where it was re- 
vised by the venerable Pastor Kollner, 
then in his 75th year, who thanked 
God that he had been permitted to 
finish this revision, as he had found 
the work a rich source of blessing to 
himself A zealous and devoted Ger- 
man Missionary (since entered into 



PREFACE. 



y 



lier rest) lent it to tlie translator in 
the north-western extremity of India; 
and as it appeared calculated to make 
the dying love of our Glorified Ee- 
deemer a more constant subject of 
meditation than it usually iS;, even 
with those who know Him^ some of 
the leisure hours of an Indian hot 
season were devoted to translating it. 
A few repetitions have been omitted, 
as well as an occasional metaphor 
carried beyond the bounds which a 
cultivated taste would prescribe. 
— - = 



VI 



PREFACE. 



I pray that this labor of Love may 
be made a blessing to many^ and cause 
them to know more of that Love of 
Christ which passeth knowledge. 

HELEJ^ COLIN MACKENZIE. 
LOODIANA, September, 1857, 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 



THE FIEST HOUR 15 

THE SECOND HOUR 18 

THE THIRD HOUR 25 

THE FOURTH HOUR 29 

THE FIFTH HOUR . 37 

THE SIXTH HOUR . . '. . . . . 43 

THE SEVENTH HOUR 49 

THE EIGHTH HOUR . ... .. . . 53 

THE NINTH HOUR ........ 58 

THE TENTH HOUR . . / 62 

THE ELEVENTH HOUR 66 



i i 



VIII CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

THE TWELFTH HOUR 72 

THE THIRTEENTH HOUR 78 

THE FOURTEENTH HOUR 84 

THE FIFTEENTH HOUR ....... 88 

THE SIXTEENTH HOUR ...... 93 

THE SEVENTEENTH HOUR 106 

THE EIGHTEENTH HOUR 112 

THE NINETEENTH HOUR 127 

THE TWENTIETH HOUR 141 

THE TWENTY-FIRST HOUR 151 

THE TWENTY-SECOND HOUR 171 

THE TWENTY-THIRD HOUR • .... 182 

THE TWENTY-FOURTH HOUR 188 



THE 



GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



Lord Jesus, tliou crucified Lover of my 
Soul ! Thou knowest the desire whicli Thy 
Spirit has awakened in my heart, that every 
hour of my life may henceforward be hal- 
lowed and sweetened by the remembrance 
of Thy Sufferings : and as Thou, Pityer of 
Men, didst pass a whole day and night at the 
close of Thy life on earth, in the bitterest 
suffering — reckoning from the institution 
of thy precious Supper, on the Thursday 
Evening, to thy burial on the Friday Even- 
ing — so would I sanctify every evening, 
every sleepless night, every day, nay, every 
hour of the day, by meditating on thy Suf- 
ferings. 



10 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



Oh, what grace that I am allowed to do | 
this ! What still greater grace that Thou 
hast inclined me to do so ! Give me the 
strength that I need for this sweet and bles- 
sed occupation. Awaken me anew, Lord 
Jesus, every day, every hour, to this end; 
for Thou knowest that without Thee I can 
do nothing — with Thee and through tliee i 
I can do all things. Thou Lamb of God, | 
wean me from earth, and draw me more | 
entirely to Thyself! Let me have no plea- 
sure or comfort when my soul forgets thy 
Sufferings. Truly this would be a great 
grace for me. 

Thy precious blood has purchased bles- 
sings for every moment of my life ; and 
how can I so fully partake of them, as by 
continued pondering on that bleeding Love, 
which, at the end of Thy Holy Life, Thou 
didst make manifest by suffering and dying 
for us. 

I confess with grief that I have spent so 



THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



11 



many hours, days and years without fruit for 
eternity. Oh, grant that I may the more 
carefully number those hours and days 
(perhaps few) which may remain, and that 
I may not increase the loss of that Time of 
Grace whereof I must give account. For- 
give me, by thy Grace, my past waste of 
Time, and my great coldness of Heart. I 
I know, Lord Jesus, and I have often ac- 
knowledged it with tears before Thee, that I 
am bound to spend all that I have, and all 
that I am, in body and soul, wholly and con- 
stantly in Thy service, and to Thine honor. 
Merciful Saviour, enable me to do so ! 
My evil heart, which is always inclined to 
error, has oftentimes no will for good ; my 
earthly mind clings to those things which 
are seen, and my roving thoughts take ad- 
vantage of every trifle to wander. Thy 
watchful care, thy Holy Spirit must do 
all things for me. Draw me to Thyself! 
Awaken in me hourly fresh desires towards 



2^ 

12 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT, 



Thee, and the fiill knowledge of Thee. 
Take from me all taste for earthly things ; 
and fill me with hunger and thirst after thy 
Righteousness. Oh, be Thou, and Thou 
alone, my all ! Let none dwell in my heart 
beside Thee, thou Crucified One ! 

God, the Holy Spirit, make me know 
daily more of the Lamb of God ; make Him 
more precious in my sight. By the grace 
which thou hast given me, I offer Thee my 
lieart ; transform it more and more by the 
knowledge of Christ ; and if it would draw 
back from Thee, oh, do thou recall it to 
Thyself! Enlighten my understanding, to 
acknowledge a living Saviour. Take my 
foolish reason captive into the loving obedi- 
ence of Faith. Deliver me from all dislike 
of the Humiliation and Suffering of my Glo- 
rious Redeemer ; and enable me to feel that, 
Avlien most despised He is most precious. 
Take also my perverted will under Tliy 
special discipline. Drive out its deeply liid- 



on) cm 

! THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 13 

den Love of Sin ; its inborn enmity against 
Jesus ; all, even the most subtle S^Dirit of 
Opposition ; all Disobedience against even 
Thy lowest whisper ; all Love of the World, 
and all perverted Self-Love. I give up my 
Memory to Thee, Thou Spirit of Grace ! j 
May the crucified and risen Saviour ever- I 
more dwell therein ; and if by any means, 
the recollection of Him should be weakened, 
I do Thou quickly restore it. I give up to 
Thee my polluted Conscience ; do Thou 
make it pure and tender ; and, as the eye 
cannot endure the smallest grain of sand, 
so do Thou make my Conscience uneasy 
! under the smallest stain of Sin ; and suifer 
I it not to b-e quieted by aught, but by the 
I Cleansing Blood of Jesus, and the Peace 

! which Cometh from Thee alone. 

I 

I Take also my wandering thoughts into 

I Thy charge ; make them cluster as bees 

j around Jesus. Hallow my Words and 

i Works ; my Doings and Thoughts ; my 



14 THE GREAT DAY OF ATOXEMEXT. 

Sleeping and Waking ; my whole Life, my 
Sorrows, my Death, with the Blood of the 
Lamb. And may the use of the means of 
grace, and of all earthly comforts, be sanc- 
tified to me through the same. 

In Thy name. Lord Jesus, will I endeavor 
to become familiar with those Sufferings 
which Thou didst take upon Thyself, dur- 
ing each hour of Thy last niglit and day ; 
trusting to Thy Grace to render the recol- 
lection of them ever fresh for my daily use. | 
May this intention be pleasing in Thy sight ; | 
and may a blood-bought Blessing accom- 
pany every meditation and every sigh ! 

i 

More brightly show me, clay by day, 
The Lamb so meek and gracious, — 

The bridegroom of my soul display, 
As hour by hour more precious ; 

For truly He alone must be. 

In death and life, thus dear to me. 



FROM SIX TO SEVEN THURSDAY EVENING. 

i MEDITATION. 

In this Hour the Lord Jesus earnestly 
desired to eat the Passover with His Disci- 
ples before He suffered. He had more than 
once eaten the Passover with them ; but we 
do not read that He had so earnestly longed 
to do so. But because this was to be the 
last Time, and because He intended to in- 
stitute His Supper, and then by suffering, 
bleeding, and dying to finish the Work 
which the Father had given Him to do, and 
consequently to abolish the Old Testament 
Passover, He longed earnestly for this one. 
He well knew the Curse and the Baptism 
which awaited Him ; but He loved Our Sal- 
I vation more than His own Life ; and this 



— — 

16 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



glowing Love to Us made Him so heartily 
desire that Baptism;^ for our Redemption 
was His Meat and Drink at this last Pass- 
over. Henceforth this Type was to cease, 
and instead of it. He was about to give us 
His Flesh to eat.^ 



PEAYEK. 

Lord Jesus, Thou true Passover Lamb ! 
Antitype of all Types ! Reality of all Shad- 
ows, what tender longings for my welfare 
glowed in Thy Heart ! May my chief pre- 
paration for Communion with Thee, at thy 
Table, consist in a pure and ardent longing 
after Thee, such as may truly be called 
hungering and thirsting after Righteousness. 
Grant me the grace daily, in the Evening- 
Hour from six to seven, to remember Thy 
earnest desire ; yea, do Thou Thyself remind 
me of it by Thy Holy Spirit ! and may my cold 

1 Luke xii. 50. 2 Luke xii, 15. John vi. 53. 




TIIE FIRST HOUR. 



17 



and insensible heart be inflamed thereby. 
Let me hourly bring that evil, torpid heart 
to Thee, to be warmed and quickened, and 
to be made like-minded with Thine. And 
if my wandering heart should by manifold 
occurrences be detained from coming to 
Thee throughout the day, grant that this 
Hour, which with desire Thou didst desire 
to see, may be the blessed Time of my en- 
joying Communion with Thee ! May I feel 
it as the greatest misfortune when my 

i Heart is estranged from Thine I May I 
offer up all I have, and all I am, to Thee, 
as heartily as Thou didst offer Thyself for 
Me ! May I meet Shame and Suffering, 
and Death itself, as willingly as Thou didst 

' give up Thyself to Death for my Sake I 

I May meditation on Thy earnest desire work 

I all this in Me. Amen ! 



2' 



FROM SEVEN TO EIGHT THURSDAY EVENING. 



MEDITATIOK. 

this Hour Our Saviour ate the Pass- 
over with His Disciples. John lay, as was 
his wont, on Jesus' breast ; and after the 
Evening Meal Christ instituted His pre- 
cious Supper. The Everlasting Father^ 
was about to die ; and would not lay down 
His Life until He had made His will, and 
appointed His Children Heirs of all His 
Riches, and of the Fruits of His Life, Suf- 
fering, Death, and Merits. We poor Sin- 
ners lay so near His Heart, that, when He 
was about to withdraw His visible presence 
from the World, He found out and ordained 
a way whereby He could dwell with us still 

1 Isaiah ix. G. 



THE SECOXD HOUR. 19 

more perfectly and in a manner still more 
suited to t:ie Household of Faith, even unto 
the End of the World. Here, in this Sa- 
cred Meal, I, by Faith, receive Him, the 
Treasure of Treasures, together with all 
thino's belonoino' to Life and Salvation. 

O CO 

oil. Love unspeakable ! and, oh, inapprecia- 
ble Memorial thereof! After the institu- 
tion of this His last Testament, He washed 
the Feet of His Disciples. What a Humil- 
iation ! ^ 

PRAYER. 

My mind 's unable so to soar above me, 
As this to comprehend — how Thou dost love me. 

Lord Jesus ! I cannot understand the 
greatness of Thy Love ; but let me, in the 
strength of Thy Holy Spirit, meditate there- 
on. Especially in the Evening Hour, when 
Thou wert occupied in instituting Thy 
Holy Supper, let me direct my thoughts to 
this consideration ! 

1 Matt. xxvi. 26 John xiii. 2—11. 



20 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 

It is the Plour at which I commonly eat 
my Evening MeaL May I enjoy all things 
in Thee ; may the hunger and thirst of my 
Soul far exceed that of my Body ; and may 
I sup with Thee by Faith at every hour of 
the day !^ May I also, with hearty repent- 
ance and lively faith, as Thy true Disciple, 
often enjoy Thee in the Sacrament ap- 
pointed in Memory of Thee, for my eternal 
benefit. Oh, may I rightly appreciate the 
importance and excellence of this Thine 
Ordinance ! May I prize Thy precious Tes- 
tament ; and bring forth the fruits which 
this Heavenly fare requires. Work such in 
me, Lord Jesus ! Thanks and Praise and 
Worship belong to Thee for Thy rich Legacy ; 
but only in a sinless Eternity will songs of 
praise be duly sung for it ; for here we are 
too weak, and too indolent, and moreover we 
see but the smallest part of the Treasures 
which Thou hast made over to us thereby. 

1 Revelation iii. 20. 



THE SECOOT HOUR. 



21 



My Saviour! the place wliicli John Thy 
Beloved Disciple had, is also suitable for 
me. To lie on the bosom of Jesus is what 
I long for, and what I need. John seems 
not so unworthy of Thy Love as I know 
myself to be : his whole heart was Thine ; 
and he was faithful to Thee^ even at the 
Cross. I find just the contrary in my own 
heart ; but, my Saviour, Thou dost not 
look at our worthiness or at our gifts ; 
Thou receivest every Sinner who comes to 
Thee. 



On worthiness and gifts Thou lookest never, 

By no rough thorns surroundest Thou Thy Word ; 

Thy tender breast will shelter sinners ever, — 
By all who come Thy welcome shall be heard. 



Thou seekest out the most wretched, and 
givest Life first to these, for they have the 
greatest need of Thee. This gives me 
courage to throw myself on Thy faithful 



22 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 

breast, and to seek Life and Grace, and 
Nourishment and Refreshment from Thee 
alone. 

Lord Jesns ! the mother's milk belongs 
especially to her youngest born. I am the 
least among Thy Children ; the ^veakcst 
among them all. I am sick, I am sorrow- 
ful ; do Thou satisfy my soul ! do Thou 
feed me svitli wine and milk, without money 
and without price ! ^ When I lie down to 
sleep, may I rest in Thee ; when I awake, 
may I still lean on Thee ! When I come to 
Thy Table, may I eat and drink, ^' Leaning 
on Jesus' breast ! " May I receive Thee as 
a little child ; and as a little child may I 
tell everything to Thee ! ask everything 
from Thee ; and receive everything from 
Thee ! Oh, were I like John ! were I just 
like a little child in mind and heart: 
Lord, make me one ! 

Thou, perfect Example of true Humility, 

1 Isaiah Iv. 1. 



THE SECOND IIOUP.. 



23 



didst wash the feet of Thy Disciples. Thy 
stooping to such an act was in itself won- 
derful ; but Thy words to Peter show that 
i there was a hidden meaning in it. Truly, 
\ my Saviour, if Thou wash me not, I have 
I no part in Thee. Oh, wash me thoroughly 
I through faith in that blood and that water 
1 which flowed from Thine own side ! Grant 
I me a thorough heart-conversion ; and, when 
I Thou hast thus cleansed me from all filthi- 
ness of flesh and spirit, keep me without 
spot ; suffer me not to soil my feet in my 
Christian Walk ! Let me continually come 
to the Fountain of Thy Blood to be cleansed 
I from all uncleanness that still cleaves to 

I me ; that I may be a Member of Thy Bride, 

i 

1 without Spot or Blemish, and stand fast for 

j ever and ever. Amen ! 

Plenteous grace with. Thee is found, 

Grace to cover all my sin ; 
Let the healing streams abound, — ■ 

Make and keep me pure within. 



24 THE GREAT DAY OF ATOXEMENT. 



Thou of life the Fountain art, 
Freely let me take of Thee ; 

Spring Thou up within my heart, — 
Rise to all eternity. 



FROM EIGHT TO NINE THURSDAY EVENING. 



MEDITATION. 

this Hour Jesus sang a Hymn, and 
went with His Disciples to the Garden of 
Olives. The Lord Jesus, who sanctified 
Himself for us in all His deeds, forgot not 
Thanksgiving. He sang a Hymn of Praise, 
in order thereby to make our Thanksgiv- 
ings and our Songs of Praise acceptable 
unto the Father. Thus went He cheerfully 
to His Agonies in the Garden. Rejoicing 
in Tribulation, this fresh step towards Suf- 
fering was made willingly, and of free love. 
He was not led, as He afterwards was, be- 
fore the Judges, and to the Hill Golgotha ; 
He now proved that He suffered freely. Oh, 
how did He thereby bear the penalty of. 



3 



26 



THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



and atone for, our aversion to the Cross ! 
How often do ive struggle, and what unwil- 
lingness do we show, when affliction comes 
upon us ! 

So ardent was His Love towards us, that 
He could not wait until the next day, but 
began His Work the very next hour. From 
Love to us, our faithful Saviour was accus- \ 
tomed to spend many nights in 23rayer in | 
our behalf. Although rest was as needful I 
and refreshing to Him as to us, for He was a I 
Man like ourselves ; yet He loved us too 
well to spend this night in sleep. We take 
our rest at night, and study our own com- 
fort, while our loving Saviour watches. 

But yet my faithful Saviour waketh, 

And blotteth out tlie writ decree 
That me to death a bond-slave maketh, 

So that my heart now beateth free. 




t:ie third hour. 



27 



PRAYER. 



my Saviour J give me a tliankful heart 
towards my Heavenly Father, and towards 
Thee, my greatest Benefactor! SuiFer not 
' i any Hour to pass unmarked by Love and 
1 1 Praise. Especially enable me to begin and 
i I end every meal with Thanksgiving ; and, 
I when I have partaken of the precious Sup- 
per, turn my heart into an altar of Thank- 
1 offering, from which the fire of grateful 
I Love may rise up to Thee ! Enable me to 
meditate on Thy walk to the Garden of 
Olives in the Evening Hour from 8 to 9. 



Draw me after Thee ; that, as Thy Disciple, 



May the willingness with which Thou didst 



I enter on Thy path of suffering be the 

j Atonement for my unwillingness to take up i 

i i 

|| the Cross. During this walk, Thou didst 
ji bear me on Thy faithful priestly heart. 
How didst Thou hasten to begin the Work 



I may follow Thee to the Mount of Olives. 







28 • THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



of Redemption ! How cheerfully didst 
Thou go to the Field of Combat as my 
Surety ! May Thy walk to the Garden 
sanctify all my walks. May they always be 
undertaken with a recollection of Tliy Pas- 
sage to the Garden of Olives. Let me con- 
secrate my nights to Thee. This is the 
time when men go gladly to rest ; but 
Thou wentest to Suffering. I thank'^Thee, 
Lord Jesus, for all Thy sleepless nights^ 
and for all Thy purposes of Love towards 
us ; when Thou didst put off Thine own 
repose for the sake of our Salvation ! May 
Thy prayers in the night time be fulfilled 
in me, and for me, whenever sleep hindei^ 
me in Evening Prayer, and especially when 
the Night of Death cometh. 

Let Thine anguish and Thy pain, 
Not, for me, be all in vain. 





FEOM NINE TO TEN THURSDAY EVENING. 



Ii^ this hour the Lord Jesus lay on the 
Mount of Olives, crushed to the earth by the 
weight of God's Wrath. He prayed repeat- 
edly that this cup might pass from him. He 
feared, and was dismayed. He was sor- 
rowful, even unto death ; and, in his agony, 
sweated, as it were, great drops of blood. 
He prayed yet more earnestly, and was min- 
istered unto by an Angel. When Amasa 
lay in his blood,^ every one stopped, and 
gazed sorrowfully at the hero. Who would 
not stop, and gaze, when the Son of God 
Himself lies in His Blood, and sorrowfully 
.consider Him Avho, for the sins of the Be- 



MEDITATION. 



1 2 Samuel xx» 




3* 




30 THE GREAT DAY OF ATOXEMEXT. j 

holder, thus suffered ? The staff of God's 

Wrath struck the Eock of our Salvation, , 
! ^ I 

I and thereout came streams of Living "Water, i 

I This precious Vine was so bruised in the ! 
Wine-press, that it might give forth its juice 
for our sakes. Were we to spend our lives 

i in the contemplation of these sufferings of i 
Jesus, yet much would remain over for \ 
Eternity ; for there are great depths here. ' 
" Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the 
wisdom and knowledge of God."^ Depths 
of the Justice and Righteousness of God ; 

. depths of his unchangeable wrath against 
Sin ; depths of the unspeakable Love of 
the Father, as of the Son, towards rebellious 
Sinners ; depths of the Love and obedience 
of Jesus towards His Heavenly Father ; 
depths of the most wonderful Humiliation, 
and the most unheard-of Love ! Let him to 
whom that noble and fleeting thing. Time, 
appears too long, go with holy reverence 

1 Romans xi. 33. 



THE FOURTH HOUR. 31 

and longing to the, Garden of Olives ; there 
to look a little way into these Depths ; and 
the Holy Spirit will teach him how to 
spend it. ^ 

PRAYER, 

Sinless Lamb ! Lord J esus Christ ! 
what nnheard-of things do I see in the 
garden of Gethsemane ! Thon, the source 
of all joy, art borne down by the anguish of 
Death, by sore amazement, and heavy sor- 
row. Thou, the Fountain of Life, dost 
wrestle with Death. Thou, the source of 
all comfort, dost faint for lack of it. Thou, 
the highest Majesty, before whom Principal- 
ities and Powers, and every knee in Heaven 
and Earth doth bow, boweth Thyself to the 
Earth before thy Father. Thou, the Lnage 
of the Livisible God, before whom the Ser- 
aphim and Cherubim veil their faces in holy 
awe ; Thou dost lie in the dust, and the 

Matt. xxvi. 36; Mark xiv. 26. 



Q^D 

= 

32 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 

Wine-press of Wrath extorts from Thee a 
bloody sweat. Thou didst receive comfort 
and strength from an Angel, whose Creator 
Thou wert ; the Lord of all from a Serv- 
ant, — the King of kings from one of his 
subjects ! These are the wonders of that 
unspeakable Love which far surpasses the 
understanding of all Men and Angels. The 
wrath of the Eighteous Judge ; the curse 
of the Law ; the rage of Satan ; the mon- 
strous load of ruin, and the sins of men — 
these heavy burdens bore Thee to the 
groimd. 

Lord Jesus ! these unspeakable sorrows 
brought forth precious fruit for men. Oh, 
make me a sharer of them ! Give me Faith, 
Lord Jesus, which may take all that Thou 
didst and sufferedst, as my own ; done and 
suffered for me ; whereof I may boast before 
I the Father ! 

i May Thy fear and Thy dismay be tlie 
ground of my peace of Conscience, and 





THE FOURTH HOUR. 



33 



peace with God ! May Thine anguish be 
my comfort in Life and in Death ! May 
Thy repeated prayers be the stay on which 
I lean in prayer, and the groimd of a child- 
like boldness in drawing nigh to God ! for 
by Thy prayers Thou hast driven away the 
clouds of my Sins, by which the face of 
God was hidden from me. Thou hast 
opened a way whereby my petitions have 
free access to the Throne of Grace. May 
the wrestling, the fear, and the anguish, 
which the bitter Cup of Wrath cost Thy 
human nature, be my help in every com- 
bat ! May the perfect resignation of Thy 
pure and innocent human will to the will 
of the Father, teach me quiet submission 
and childlike contentment to all the divine 
leadings ; even when they may seem strange 
to my blinded reason, a^id contrary to my 
perverse will ! May the unwearied gentle- 
ness which Thou didst show to Thy sleep- 
ing Disciples in the midst of Thy sore con- 



34 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



flict, be my comfort, when burdened with 
the weakness and sloth of the flesh ; and 
may it be of daily help to me ! 

Oh, wash me in Thine own Blood, that 
in the Hour of Death, or rather in that of 
my summons to the Marriage Feast, I may 
be acceptable unto the Father, and the An- 
gels may rejoice to bear home a soul thus 
adorned and purified ! 

Whenever I am in a garden, may I re- 
member the ardent Love which Thou didst 
show to us ; and the anguish and suffering 
Thou didst take upon Thyself for our 
sakes ; and may both the labors and en- 
joyment of a garden be sanctified by this 
recollection ! Thou Heavenly Husband- 
man, happy is the heart which is Thy Gar- 
den, watered by Thy Blood ! Oh, break 
the rocks ; root out the thorns ! and make 
my heart a fruitful soil ! Sow the good 
seed of Thy Word therein ; water it with 
Thy Grace; shine on it. Thou Sun of 



THE FOURTH HOUR. 

Eighteousness, and blow on it with the soft 
gales of Thy Holy Spirit, that it may bring 
forth much fruit ! 

my Saviour, draw my thoughts to Thee 
daily at the time when Thou didst suffer 
thus for me ! Enable me, in Thy strength, 
and through Thy victory, to overcome all 
sloth ! Teach me, after Thine example, to 
feel the magnitude and the weight of Sin ; 
to understand its abominable nature ; its 
effects, and its punishment ! Give me a 
broken heart and contrite spirit ; and when 
I feel how feeble and imperfect my repent- 
ance is, may my Faith lay hold of Thy j)er- 
fect Repentance, and offer it unto the 
Father! Suffer not the sight of my daily 
omissions and sins, or the sense of my lost 
condition and misery, to weaken my weak 
Faith ! Teach me to say Abba, Father ! 
Let me learn it rightly from Thy lips ! 
Teach me to lay hold of all that Thou hast 
done, as if it had been done for me alone ! 




36 



THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



Thy dread and anguish ; Thy wrestling with 
death ; Thy prayers ; Thy bloody sweat, are 
all mine. May Repentance, Faith, and 
Love be my last occupation before I close 
mine eyes; and when I awake, may I be 
ever with Thee ! Do Thou graciously make 
all my bed in sickness ; and let me rest in 
Thee, in the midst of pain, suffering, and 
Death! 

Thy bloody couch alone shall be 

To me my place of lying, 
In life, and in lifers agony, 

My death-bed, too, in dying: 
How soft will it to me be made. 
How blest my weary limbs, if laid 

E'en there, amid my sorrow ! 
Me, faithful Lamb, oh, ne'er forsake ! 
Grant when eye fails, and heart doth break, 

Rest on Thy heart to borrow. 



%]lt lifti] 3mx, 

FROM TEN TO ELEVEN THURSDAY EVENING. 



MEDITATION. 

In this Hour was our Faithful Shepherd 
sought out by his bloodthirsty enemies and 
betrayed by Judas with a kiss. He met 
them with readiness, and, when they an- 
swered his question, Whom seek ye," by 
replying " Jesus of Nazareth," He made 
Himself known by declaring ^' I am He ! " 
And at the same time a ray of His glorious 
Omnipotence, darting through the clouds 
of His deepest Humiliation, caused His 
Enemies, with all their swords and staves, 
to fall helpless to the earth ! As, however, 
this was the Hour appointed by the Father 
for His Suffering and Atonement, He al- 



38 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 

lowed them to rise, and again declared 
Himself unto them, giving a free passage 
to His Disciples in the words, " Let these 
go their way." ^ 

Then did His Enemies fall upon Him as 
dogs upon a defenceless sheep ; and Peter 
drew his sword, and cut off Malchus's ear ; 
but the Lamb of God healed it, forbade 
Peter to take vengeance, and assured him 
that He could pray to the Father for more 
than twelve legions of Angels, were it not 
that this was the hour of the Power of 
Darkness ; and that therefore His Disciples 
should patiently submit. Then the soldiers 
bound Him, and led Him away ; His Disci- 
ples also forsook Him, and fled. Thus 
doing and suffering by turns marked the 
Evening in the Garden of Olives. How 
justly then should we daily set apart an 
Hour for the prayerful contemplation of 
these things ; and spend it in hearty de- 

1 John xviii. 8. 



THE FIFTH HOUR. 39 

sires for that blessing which our Faithful 
Redeemer then obtained for us ! ^ 

PRAYER. 

my Saviour, unwearied in Love, in 
Suffering, in Doing ! How ought I to be 
ashamed before Thee, of my sloth and self- 
indulgence ! I take refuge in Thy merits, 
in the comforting assurance, that Tliou 
wilt give me the Victory in this matter ; 
for I need it, I seek it, and by Thy Grace I 
shall obtain it. 

Strengthened by an Angel, Tliou goest 
towards fresh suffering, with fresh strength 
and fresh courage. Oh, grant me the 
Grace which Thou hast thus won for me ! 

Thine Enemies sought Thee without 
ceasing, until they found Thee. To find 
and to lay hold of Jesus of Nazareth was 
the end of their wishes. Oh, may I, in a 
good cause, learn to imitate them ! May I 

1 John xYiii. 12—24. 



40 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 

imweariedly seek Thee, until I find Thee; 
with the hallowed intention of laying hold 
of Thee by Faith, and never letting Thee 
go ! Thou didst suffer Thyself to be found 
by Thine enemies, by Judas, who betrayed 
Thee with the traitor-kiss. Behold, I fear 
my own Judas-heart. Such a heart have I 
by nature. Lord Jesus ! but let me never 
rest until Thou hast wholly changed it, 
driven all deceit out of it, and created it 
unto Thyself a faithful, upright, honest 
heart ! I beseech Thee, grant me this 
grace now ! Prove me ; try my heart, and I 
see if there be any wicked way in me, and ! 
lead me in the Way Everlasting ! And, as 
the eyes of my Faith are too dim to find 
and recognize Thee, come towards me, and | 
say I am He !" I shall know the voice of j 
my Shepherd ; and as, when I have found \ 
Thee, the arms of my Faith are too weak to i 

hold Thee fast, do Thou liold me, Lord, I 

i 

that I may never be divided from Thee ! j 



THE FIFTH HOUR. 



41 



I am far more deeply wounded than the 
servant of the High Priest. The whole 
head is sick, and the whole heart faint. In 
heart, in understanding, in will, in con- 
science, in memory, I am sick, both in 
Body and Soul. My wonnds stink, and are 
corrupt through my foolishness. Without 
Thee, they are incurable ; there is no balm 
in Gilead, except Thy Blood. There is no 
Physician there except Thee ; and Thou 
botli canst and wilt heal me. It is my own 
fault that I am so sick and wretched, there- 
fore, Lord, do Thou make me willing to 
be cured ; willing to submit in all things to 
the management of my Great Physician ! 

Thou didst let Thyself be bound in my 
stead, in order to purchase my Freedom. 
Do Thou loosen my Bonds, the bonds of 
unbelief in the heart ; of darkness and 
prejudice in the understanding, of Self-love 
and perversity in the will ! From all these 
Bonds, do Thou free me ! May Thy Bonds 



42 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



work ill me a tliorougli abhorrence of the 
bondage of Sin ; may the least of its fet- 
ters be to me an insupportable burden ! but 
do Thou bind me with the cords of Thy 
Love, that every thought may be brought 
into captivity to Thee ! Lead me always as 
a little child by Thy Providence, Love and 
Grace. Let me not take a step without 
Thee ! Let it be my highest honor and 
greatest liberty to be Thy Servant ! Now, 
Lord Jesus, do Thou begin to melt and 
destroy with the fire of Thy Love, all bonds 
and fetters within me ! 

Break the bondage of Sin^ and bring me 
into the glorious Liberty of the Children of 
God! 



FROM ELEVEN TO TWELVE THURSDAY NIGHT. 



MEDITATION. 



In this Hour was our Faithful Saviour led 
to Annas, but what occurred there is not 
written. Certainly it was nothing either 
honorable or pleasant, but much the con- 
trary. Thence they brought Him to Caia- 
phasj the son-in-law of Annas, who was 
High Priest that year. There had all the 
Chief Priests, Scribes, and Elders assem- 
bled themselves, who began to question the 
G-reat Sigh Priest concerning His Disciples 
and the Doctrine, to which He, the Wisdom 
of the Father, gave the most suitable an- 
swer ; but a servant dared to lift his hand 



■ — 

44 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 

against the Image of the Invisible God ! ^ 
and to accuse him of answering improper- 
ly. The Saviour defended His own reply ; | 
it being most important for us to be con- 
vinced that every word of His was right. 
In the meantime Peter had denied his Lord 
and Master, although he had promised to 
go with Him even unto Death. The cock 
had crowed once. These were the heavy 
sorrows which our Mediator took upon 
Himself at this time. Oh, what num- 
berless sins did He atone for, during this 
Hour, and what numberless blessings and 
Grace did He win for us ! ^ 

PRAYER. 

Lord Jesus, my Surety! I pray for the 
forgiveness of all these sins which Thou 
didst atone for ; and for all the fruits of 
the suffering Thou didst willingly take upon 

1 Hebrews i. 2 John xviii. 1 — 11. 



THE SIXTH HOUR. 



45 



Thyself. When I awake at this Hour, may 
I follow Thee to the Palace of the High 
Priest ; but not like Peter, afar off. At 
that time he had no call to follow Thee ; on 
the contrary Thou hadst told him, Whith- 
er I go thou canst not follow me now for 
Thou saw*est beforehand the danger which 
awaited him. But, Lord, I must, through 
Thy Spirit, and by Faith, press through the 
crowd of Thine Enemies, and follow Thee 
closely, that I may learn to imitate Thy 
meek and holy behavior ; and that I may 
receive from Thee the blessings which Thou 
didst purchase for me. Thou my Great 
High Priest, sawest fit wisely to answer the 
questions concerning Thy Teaching. Do 
Thou teach me likewise to speak at the 
right time and in the right way ! and let all 
I do or leave undone, be according to Thy 
Will and Thy Word, so that when called on 
to speak, I may do so freely, boldly, as 
Thou didst. 



46 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



How sliould I appear, 

Had I to draw near 

In tliy sight to-day ? 
I've endured but liglitly, 
Striven have I but slightly — 

This I think of aye. 

Lord let not me ^ 
A mockery be, 
To thine enemies and mine ; — 
Cleanse me, now, by grace divine. 



Still Thy sinless words caused a servant 
of Satan to smite Thee, Thus didst Thou 
bear the shame and confusion with which 
I should have stood before the Judgment 
Seat, if I had to answer for my sins without 
Thee. But Thou hast stepped into my 
place. Thou hast taken my shame upon 
Thee. Thou hast borne the chastisement 
I deserve for every useless and foolish word. 
And therefore for Thy sake I shall not be 
put to confusion at the last day. 



THE SIXTH HOUR. 



47 



When transgressions testifying 
Loud accuse me more and more ; 

When my evil conscience, crying, 
Threatens condemnation sore ; 

Then, oh, let Thy dying pain 
Not be borne for me in vain ! 



Oh, fill me with gratitude for the shame 
which Thou hast suffered ; and when I 
awake in the night, awaken me to heart-felt 
praise of Thy Love and Faithfulness ! Thy 
Y/ords and Thine acts were righteous, yet 
Thou didst bear the stroke and the blame. 
My words and acts are unrighteous, yet I 
have no blame to bear, and am reckoned 
righteous in Thy sight. Let me feed on 
this great Truth. But as my sins are never 
single, so Thy sufferings are never alone. 
While Thou wert enduring the pain I have 
been contemplating, Thou wert denied by 
Thy loved Disciple, Peter, although Thou 
hadst warned him, and admonished him so 



48 THE GREAT DAY OF ATOXEMENT. 

frequently to watch and pray. How often 
have I inflicted the same pain on Thee ! 
My heart is far too much inclined to be 
ashamed of Thee, and but little inclined to 
confess Thee before men, even when there 
is no danger in so doing. May it hence- 
forward be my greatest joy and honor to 
acknowledge Thee in all my words and ways> 
for my all^ even though it should cost me 
Honor and Life ! 





FROM TWELVE TO ONE — MIDNIGHT. 



MEDITATION. 



It was now midnight. Our Redeemer 
sanctified this Hour also by the sufferings 
which He took upon Himself. He was 
again twice denied by Peter, upon whom 
He looked in so touching a manner, as to 
melt his heart with inward grief and re- 
pentance. Oh, how evil and unfaithful are 
our hearts towards Our Lord Jesus ! The 
spotless Lamb of God was, at the time of 
Peter's denial, accused of many things by 
false witnesses. He, however, kept silence; 
more especially as their testimony did not 
agree together. But though His mouth 
was silent. His eye spoke to the heart of 




5 




50 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 

Peter. At last tlie High Priest liimself 
came forward and asked if our Redeemer 
had nothing to answer to what these men 
said against Him. But He answered him 
not a word. ^ 

PRAYER. 

Lord Jesus, great is Thy Love and 
Faithfuhiess ! Peter denies Thee twice 
and thrice, yet Thou remainest steadfast. 
How must the behavior of Peter have 
pained Thee ! and how must my unfaithful- 
ness (of which I have been guilty times 
without number) have grieved Thee ! I 
dare not compare myself to Peter, for I was 
never in such danger as he ; and yet I have 
often shunned acknowledging Thee, even 
by a few words, in society, where I feared 
being despised. Lord, I take refuge in Thy 
Faithfulness unto Death ; may that help 
me ! Give me a true and faithful heart ; 

iMatt. xxvi. 69—75; Mark xiv. 55. 



THE SEVENTH HOUR. 



51 



and may it be my greatest joy to prove my 
fidelity to Thee in every action ! Do Thon 
watch over me, Good Shepherd, with the 
same care wherewith Thou didst watch over 
Peter ! Do Thou convert me fully, and 
teach me to watch over my faithless heart, 
and to be on my guard against opportuni- 
ties of sin ; for I see it in Peter's example, 
and, alas ! I have often found, to my great 
shame, that we seldom stop at the first sin, 
but we always fall deeper. When I awake 
at Midnight, do Thou remind me forcibly 
of these things, and look on me in mercy, 
as Thou didst on Peter. At Midnight all is 
silent and quiet ; and it is a suitable time 
for thinking of Thy silence under many 
accusations. When my Conscience and 
the Law accuse me, I also must be silent ; 
but do Thou, Lord Jesus, speak for me ! 
and may Thy silence atone for my sinful 
words, and may it be a check on my talk- 
ative lips. 



52 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 

Thou wert silent, and didst hearken, 
when the High Priest spoke to Thee. 
Thou Eternal High Priest, teach me to be 
silent; and to hearken with the utmost 
heed, when Thou speakest to me, either by 
Thy Spirit, or by Thy Word! Teach me 
to hear and to follow Thy still small voice. 

Lord Jesus, at midnight the cry may be 
heard by me, Behold the Bridegroom 
cometh, go ye forth to meet liim ! " Oh, 
give me Thy Grace, that I may be found 
watching, and adorned with Thy Merits, 
anointed with the oil of Faith ; so that, for 
Thy sake, and clad in Thy Righteousness, 

1 may enter in with Thee to the Marriage. 
Hallelujah ! Amen. 



FROM ONE TO TWO FRIDAY MORNING. 



MEDITATION. 

It was now Friday,^ a joyful day for the 
Lord Jesus ; ^ for He rejoiced, as a strong 
man to run a race, although it were a 
thorny and painful one. The Friend of 
our Souls looked on this as His Marriage- 
day, on which He was to redeem and be- 
troth His Bride to Himself. 

And for us, too, it is a joyful day ; for on 
it we were redeemed and won from the 
strength and power of our great Enemy, 
and were thus made free indeed. Although 

1 The Author does not seem to have been aware that the 
Jews reckoned then* day, as many Easterns still do, from 
sunset to sunset, and not from midnight, as is the custom 
of the Germanic nations. 

niatt. 26:64, 65. 



54 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMEOT. 



Our Lord did not think fit to speak sooner, 
yet now He answered the question of the 
High Priest whether He were truly the Son 
of God, by a glorious confession. Then the 
High Priest rent his garments. The Lord 
J csus was accused of blasphemy, and was 
unanimously condemned to Death. Then 
was our Surety most shamefully and cruel- 
ly ill-treated. The face of Him, who was 
fairer than the Children of Men," was 
spit upon, and they who held Him mocked 
and buffeted Him. They covered His face 
and struck Him in ridicule of His Pro- 
phetic Office ; and many other blasphemies 
spake they against Him. Under such suf- 
fering was the Great Day of Reconciliation 
begun and sanctified. ^ 

PRAYER. 

My Saviour, Thou didst begin this day 
with suffering ! May every day of my life 

iMatt. 26: 63. 



THE EIGHTH HOUR. 



begin with Love and Praise ! Thou wert 
unwearied in suffering ; may I never be 
weary of meditating on Thy sufferings, or 
appropriating them to myself by Faith ; 
Thou, who art the Truth, didst freely ac- 
knowledge that Thou wert Christ, the 
Son of the Blessed Lord. I thank Thee a 
thousand-fold for this good Confession ; for 
what good would it do me if I knew all 
Thy Sufferings, but did not hold fast this 
truth, that Thou art the Son of God, the 
promised Messiah and Saviour of the 
World ! This it is which gives the value 
and weight before God to all Thine actions 
and sufferings. Thy bleeding and dying. 
Thou knewest the consequences of this 
Confession ; and yet the fearful injuries it 
brought upon Thee did not prevail on 
Thee to keep it back one moment. Oh, 
what Love ! Thou didst sacrifice Thyself 
for the glory of Thy Father, and for the 
Souls of Men. Do Thou open my mouth 



=K3 



op 

= 

56 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



whenever it will tend to the honor of God 
and the welfare of my neighbor ! Do thou 
teach me when to speak, and when to be 
silent ! When I am wrongfully accused, 
teach me to take it meekly, not answering 
again. 

When evil tongues are trying 
To blast my fame by lying, 

In meekness let me live ; 
In justice let me suffer ; 
And neighbors, when they offer 

Unkindness, cheerfully forgive. 

Thou who hadst honored the Father, 
wert accused of blasphemy ; but this was 
needful, since Thou didst stand in my 
stead. Truly, Lord Jesus, I as a blas- 
phemer deserve that treatment which was 
inflicted on Thee. I deserve the blows, 
the scorn, and the condemnation ! But 
Thy visage was marred, that mine might 
shine with everlasting glory. Thou wast 



THE EIGHTH HOUR. 57 

scoffed at, that I might attain to honor. 
Thy Confession that Thou art the Son of 
Godj is so sure a ground of Faith, that 
nought can shake it. Even if Thy pro- 
phetical office is despised, Thy people know 
that Thou art the True Prophet, the Amen 
and the Faithful Witness. All the shame 
Thou didst undergo is but a confirmation 
of our Faith, since Thou didst foretell it. ^ 

iLuke xviii. 31,32. 



on) 




FROM TWO TO THREE FRIDAY MORNING. 



It was at this time that the High Priests, 
Scribes, and Elders separated themselves. 
They were tired with their work, and, 
thinking their Captive sufficiently secured, 
they were willing to take some rest. Thus 
did they spend their strength in the service 
of Satan, and sacrifice their nights and 
their repose to Satan. How many follow- 
ers have they in these days ! Our Saviour 
was imwearied in doing good. His tender 
frame, worn out by His wrestling in the 
Garden, was supported and strengthened by 
His glowing Love to the Souls of Men. 
This was no time for Him to rest ; but a 
time to glorify His Father, to save Sinners, 



MEDITATION. 



?5Cc 




THE NINTH HOUR. 59 

and to conquer Satan. In the meantime 
His guards held Him fast, fearing He 
might escape from them. 

PRAYER. 

Thus, most precious Saviour, didst 
Thou sacrifice the whole night and Thy so 
much needed repose for me ; and didst 
thereby atone for the self-indulgence with 
which I so often go to rest, before I have 
sought to be cleansed from the sins of the 
past day in Thy Blood ! How can I thank 
Thee for Thine unspeakable Love ? May 
it be the bequest which shall draw my 
thoughts to Thee ; the Fire which may 
create a corresponding warmth in my Soul ; 
that I may be enabled to devote this Hour 
to a thankful remembrance of Thee ! Lord 
Jesus, Thou knowest how I have wasted 
the strength of both body and soul in the 
service of Sin. How often has even my 
rest been a Sin ! Do Thou blot out mine 



60 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 

offences by Thine own Merits. Thou hast 
given me grace to offer all I am, or can, or 
have, to Thy Service and Honor ; teach me 
to live accordingly, by living to Thee 
alone ! 

Thoii didst suffer Thyself to be held by 
Thine Enemies, but it was Love stronger 
than Death'' that held Thee fast. A word 
of Thine would have laid all Thy Foes 
prostrate in the dust ; but, no ! Thou didst 
remain there willingly to suffer. Hadst 
Thou then departed, most faithful Friend, 
I too must long since have departed also ; 
but into outer darkness! — into the depths 
of Hell ! Glory and Honor and Praise be 
rendered unto Thee ! Teach me to hold 
Thee fast by Faith ! Let me not grudge at 
times to lose my sleep, as those who 
guarded Thee did ; thinking all well lost to 
keep a firm hold on Thee ! May I abide in 
Thee, and Thou in me ! Lord Jesus, 
come unto me, and make Thine abode in 



THE NINTH HOUR. 



61 



me ! Abide in me ; for the day of my life 
is far spent, and the day of True Life 
draweth nigh ! How can I either live or 
die, if Thou art not with me ! 



FROM THREE TO FOUR FRIDAY MORNING. 



MEDITATION. 

At daybreak Our Lord Jesus was amid 
the Roman soldiers, as a Lamb in the 
midst of wolves ! Mockery, spitting, blows, 
and anguish He again suffered ; and per- 
chance the Evangelists have not related His 
worst sufferings ; but we may picture to 
ourselves what He must have endured at 
the hands of the imbridled soldiery, who 
thought they had a malefactor before them, 
who could not be tormented too much. 
No doubt one yied with the other in wicked- 
ness. But the patient Lamb of God bore 
it all in Meekness and Love, ready to 
undergo still greater sufferings : and amidst 
the deep billows of affliction that rolled 





THE TENTH HOUR. 



63 



over Him, He thought only of the good 
pleasure of His Father, and the Redemp- 
tion of His purchased possession. ^ 

Hadst Thou of all most scorning ? 
JMethinks 'tis Thy adorning ; 
Mocks and malice to Thee tendered, 
Let me count as honors rendered. 



Oh, My Saviour, what an Hour of sorrow 
was this ! Thou, who hadst dwelt for ever 
amid the Praise and Adoration of Holy 
Angels, of Cherubim and Seraphim, — yea, 
and in the bosom of the Father, — didst 
abase Thyself so low as to give Thyself up 
into the hands of these Instruments of 
Satan. Ah! in what heartfelt pain, — in 
what intercourse with Thy Father, — in 
what intercession for Sinners, and for the 
Fruit of this Travail of Thy Soul, must 
Thou have passed this Hour ! And how 



PEAYER. 



Matt. 27: 27 — 29; Mark 15: 16. 




64 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 

Thou hast passed this Hour ! And how 
very seldom has the same hour been devo- 
ted to praismg and glorifymg Thee ! Set- 
ting my indifference on one side, at this 
time I am ahiiost always asleep. May I, 
during the rest of my life, partake more of 
the employments of a Sinless Eternity. 
Do Thou now accept the Praises which, in 
much weakness, I offer to Thee ; and, 
whenever I awake between 3 and 4, may 
my thoughts be filled with that which Thou 
didst suffer, and purchase for me, during 
this period ! But when mine eyes sleep, 
" may my heart wake to Thee I Thou hast 
hallowed even the sleep of Thy people : do 
Thou receive each throb of my jDulse as a 
humble and hearty Thank-offering to Thee. 

Another request have I to make to Thee, 
Bountiful Saviour, as Salome did, ^ and 
yet one according to Thy Holy Word and 
Will. ^ As I know not the number of my 

, 1 Matt. 20: 20. 2 John 16: 23. 



THE TENTH HOUR. 65 

sins, nor the tliousandtli part of my misery 
and corruption ; as so much of the evil of 
my own heart is hidden from me ; may 
those unknown sufferings, which in like 
manner are hidden from my view, atone for 
my Secret Sins, so that my Conscience may 
be at rest, and I may have free access to 
the Throne of Grace, through Thy perfect 
Merits ! Amen ! " Cleanse Thou me from 
Secret Sins."^ 

iPs. 19: 12. 



6* 



FROM FOUR TO FIVE FRIDAY MORNING. 



MEDITATION. 

Now the High Priests, the Scribes, and 
Elders came together again, after having 
rested but a short time. Their hate 
against Jesns would not allow them to be 
quiet any longer, or they would have 
thought more of their own comfort. Thus 
it is that the perverted heart of man makes 
him slothful in good, active in evil. — And 
for this Jesus did now atone. 

As soon as their wickedness had brought 
them together again, the Lamb of God was 
led before these Wolves in Sheep's cloth- 
ing, who demanded of Him if He were 
indeed the Christ, the Son of God ; to 
which, after remindino: them of their own 



THE ELEVENTH HOUR. 



perverseness. He answered, by freely ac- 
knowledging that He was the Christ, the 
Son of the Blessed. Then they rejoiced, 
thinking this sufficient reason for condemn- 
ing Him to Death. In the Garden of 
Olives He had wrestled with Death — and 
now, for the* second time. He was con- 
demned to die. Every time we sin, the 
Law and Conscience pronounce sentence 
of Death upon us, and therefore was our 
Surety twice condemned. ^ 

PKAYER. 

Lord Jesus, in the last day of Thy 
suffering. Thou hadst not the intervals of 
ease which Thou dost give to Thy believ- 
ing People. How often in their afflictions 
dost Thou give them a day of rest and ease 
after a night of anguish, since Thou, who 
wast made perfect, as our High Priest by 
suffering, knowest how hard it is when one 

iLuke 22: G6 — 71. 



6^ = 

68 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 

wave follows another without intermission ! 
Thou hast passed the most dreadful night 
through which any one could live ; and the 
day which followed, was, alas ! a day of 
anguish and agony, of Darkness and Death ! 
Hadst Thou required an interval of ease, 
hadst Thou waxed weary of suffering, and 
hadst Thou not, as Our Faithful Friend 
and Surety, endured even unto the end, 
we lost creatures, must have been a prey to 
Misery and Death ! 

Oh, that I had a thousand tongues to glo- 
rify Thine unwearied Faithfulness ! Thou 
hast blessed every day of our lives by en- 
abling us to rejoice always in Thy Salva- 
tion. Oh, suffer us not to turn them into 
days of grief through our own sinfulness ! 

Thou didst confess Thyself to be the Son 
of God. By the steadfastness of Thy Con- 
fession, do Thou atone for my unsteadfast- 
ness in all that is good ! Thou didst con- 
fess Thyself to be what Thou art, even bo- 



THE ELEYEXTH HOUR. 



69 



fore Enemies wlio thirsted for Thy Blood : | 
may I by grace follow Thine example, and, j 
■without reservation, fully acknowledge my- ! 
self to be what I am ! Truly, I have need : 
to beseech Thee for this grace, for my 
heart is most false ! David refrained his 
lips ; and it was pain and grief to him. 
Let me take warning by him, and not be 
careful, even though Evil should come 
upon me for my Confession, as it did upon 
Thee for Thine ; for the more open-hearted 
I am towards Thee, Thou Friend that 
sticketh closer than a Brother, the more \ 
help and grace may I look to receive at 
Thy hands ! Therefore, I confess to Thee, 
Lord Jesus, that I am a poor Sinner, en- 
tirely ruined by the Fall, with not a spark 
of goodness in me by nature. Since it is 
from my natural enmity against Thee that 
my innumerable actual sins proceed, so that 
I have merited Hell a million of times ; and 
that, lying in such a miserable state, no 



THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



Creature in Heaven or Earth can help me ! 
I am the greatest, the most Trretched, the 
most lost of Sinners, and need an Almighty 
Physician, who can heal me thoroughly ; 
even Thyself, Lord Jesus, Thou Redeemer, 
Saviour, and Glorifier — Thou Son of God, 
His Anointed One ! 

Yes, so great are my debts, Lord, that 
no one but Thou canst pay the monstrous 
sum of them ! My soul is so bespotted with 
the stains of sin, vidiich I can no more take 
away, than the Ethiopian can change his 
skin, or the Leopard his spots, that nothing 
but Thy Blood, My Lord and My God, 
can make me white as snow. Yea, Lord 
Jesus, I confess myself to be such an one 
as Thy holy eyes, which are as a flame of 
fire, seest me to be ; and Thou knowest 
what I should have been, if Thou hadst 
withdrawn Thine hand from me, and given 
me up to mine enemies ! This is my Con- 
fession, My Redeemer ; and, did I not 




THE ELEVENTH HOUR. 



71 



know of the good Confession which Thou 
didst witness, I should perish in my misery. 
But, as I have learned from Thine own 
mouth that Thou art the Christ, my anoint- 
ed High Priest, Prophet, and King, — yea, 
that Thou art the Son of God, whose works 
and sufferings are of eternal yalue, — I may 
not doubt, but rather give thanks. Tea, 
My Eedeemer, Thou hast begun to help, to 
save, to heal, to wash me — to exercise Thy 
whole Office as Saviour toward me ! Thou 
wilt not leave Thine own Work undone, 
but wilt fully perfect me to Thine Honor 
and my Blessedness. Yes, in Thee, Lord 
Jesus, am I already perfectly righteous, 
holy, and blessed ! Since Thou wert con- 
demned to Death, therefore, in and through 
Thee, have I Life, Eternal Life ! Hallelu- 



jah! 



FKOM FIVE TO SIX FRIDAY MORNING. 



MEDITATION. 

The whole Council stood up together, 
and bound Jesus (either again or still more 
firmly), and led Him away to the Hall of 
Judgment, and delivered Him unto Pilate. 
This was early in the Morning. Now, when 
Judas saw that He would be put to death, 
he brought back the money, acknowledged 
the innocence of Jesus ; and went and 
hanged himself. This was a sorrowful 
Hour for the patient Lamb of God. His 
prophecy, that He should be delivered up 
to the Gentiles, was now fulfilled ; and tlie 
Good Shepherd mourned because He must 
lose one of those Sheep on whom He had 
bestowed so much care. Frcsli billows of 



THE TWELFTH HOUR. 



73 



siifFering rolled over Our Surety. Every 
hour discovers new depths of His Suffer- 
ings, new depths in His Love.-^ 

PRAYER. 

Gracious Friend of Sinners, Lord Jesus, 
Thou didst suffer late in the Evening ; let 
me remember Thy sufferings when the day 
is far spent ! Thou didst suffer far into 
the Night : let not Thy sorrows cease to 
occupy my mind in the Night season ! 
Thou didst suffer early : may my heart 
arise unto Thee, to consider and to mag- 
nify Thy Love ! Thine enemies bound Thee 
tighter. I in Spirit kiss those bound hands, 
which fashioned me in my mother's womb, 
and which have led me so lovingly all my 
life long! I place myself in Thy hands, 
Lord, knowing that Thou wilt never leave 
me nor forsake me ! Most Precious Sa- 
viour, may I receive the full benefits of Thy 

1 Matt, xxviii. 1—5. 



74 THE GREAT DAY OF ATOI^EMENT. 

Bonds and Wounds! Thou wert dragged 
from one jAace to another ! oh, sanctify 
thereby all my goings, that I, too, may 
move from one place to another in remem- 
brance of Thee ! Yes, abide with me, Lord 
Jesus, in my goings out and comings in ; 
when I am in the house, and when I am by 
the way ! Abide with me in Life, that in 
Death I may abide with Thee ! 

Thou didst suffer Thyself to be led before 
a Heathen Judge. Oh, what grace is it 
that my Judge is my Brother and my 
Bridegroom ! Therefore shall I not be con- 
demned. Judas, Thy former Disciple, des- 
pairs, and hangs himself. This is the work 
of Sin, At first it is pleasant to the taste, 
but afterwards it is gall and poison to the 
soul. This is the work of Satan. Before 
sin is committed, he diminishes it, after- 
wards he magnifies it to the startled Con- 
science as greater than the immeasurable 
Grace, of God. Oh, let me, by the exam- 



THE TWELFTH HOUR. 75 

pie of Judas, learn the abominable nature 
and the frightful consequences of sin, and 
grow wise thereby ! It is easy, by one in- 
cautious step, to fall into the snare, but 
very hard to get out of it again. Arm me, 
Lord Jesus, with a holy hatred against 
all sin ; especially against the sin of covet- 
ousness, which is the " root of all evil ; " 
and likewise against falsehood and deceit ! 
Judas brings back the money before he 
hangs himself; so little peace does ill- 
gotten goods leave in an awakened Con- 
science. 

But, Inestimable Sa^dour, at what a 
price wert Thou, Our Heavenly Treasure, 
priced at ! Thy Disciple gave thee up for 
thirty pieces of silver ! The world gives 
thee up for its empty, sinful pleasures ! 
And, Wondrous Grace ! He who best can 
prize Thee, Thy Father which is in Heaven, 
though He sees that a poor Sinner has noth- 
ing to pay, — not even to purchase one 



0^ 



76 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



drop of thy blood, — yet He freely gives 
Thee to all who ask. What shame and 
confusion must be my portion, if I do not 
seek Thee with longing Faith for my eter- 
nal welfare ! 0, teach me to prize Thee 
above all things, and count all things but 
dross and dung for the Excellency of the 
Knowledge of Thee ! ^ 

With the thirty pieces of silver, they 
bought the Field of Blood. See, Lord Je- 
sus, my heart is a Field of Blood, for Thou 
hast bought it with Thy Blood, and dost 
evermore sprinkle it therewith ! Oh, make 
it bring forth fruit ! Do Thou watch over 
it. My Lord, and My Owner ! I was un- 
fruitful, I brought forth nothing but weeds, 
briers, and thorns ; but Thou hadst com- 
passion on me, and didst purchase me with 
a Price, a million-fold above my worth, in 
order to deliver me from this state ! Surely 
this wondrous grace must ever keep me 

1 Phil. iii. 8. 



THE TWELFTH HOUR. 



77 



from despair, and give me fresh courage 
and strength to press onward ! At dawn 
may I ever remember that Thou art my 
Owner and Possessor ; so that I may con- 
secrate myself to Thee afresh every Morn- 
ing ! 



FROM SIX TO SEVEN FRIDAY MORNING. 



MEDITATION. 

This was a Time of Accusation. Then 
the Accuser of our brethren stepped for- 
ward in his Instruments, and accused Je- 
sus, " the First-born among many Breth- 
ren." 'The Most Holy was called a Trans- 
gressor, and many sins were laid to His 
charge ; but He answered nothing, for he 
stood in the stead of Sinners. But, when 
Pilate asked Him if the assertion, that He 
gave Himself out to be a King, were well 
founded. He answered openly that He was 
a King, and that for this cause came He 
into the World, that he should bear witness 
to that Truth — thus testifying that His 
Kingdom was not of this World. Then 



THE THIRTEENTH HOUR. 



79 



Pilate openly declared the innocence of 
Jesus. But when His Accusers again bore 
witness against Him, Jesus, the Eternal 
Wisdom, thought it not good to answer 
them aught. We had done all these things 
wherewith He was charged ; and He stood 
there to answer for Us before His judge. 
— At His silence, Pilate wondered. And 
doubtless Heaven and Earth and Hell Avon- 
dered at His Death ! ^ 

PRAYER. 

Lord Jesus, receive my thanks for that 
great and wondrous Love, which moved 
Thee to let Thyself be judged in my stead ! 
for that Love which kept Thy hallowed lips 
closed, when Thou wert accused of those 
sins which I and my fellow-men have been 
guilty of; but which also opened Thy mouth 
with a glorious Confession, which revealed 
truth of unspeakable value respecting Thy 

1 Matt, xxvii. 11 — 14. John xviii. 33—37. 



(V (1)0 

^ -l^ 

80 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



Person and Office ! Thou didst suffer Thy- 
self to be called a Sinner, — Thou, who art 
the Author of all Good ! " Sinner " is my 
title, not Thine. But Thou didst bear it 
and my sins together, and gavest me in 
return a New Name, and Thy Righteous- 
ness. When, therefore, at the great Day 
of Judgment, Thou wilt say, " Depart from 
me, ye wicked, I never knew you ! " I re- 
joice in the thought that I am not one of 
those who are thus addressed — for Thou 
knowest me only by the Neiv Name which 
Thou hast given me ! Oh, may my soul 
(especially in the Hour from 6 to 7) rejoice 
therein, and praise Thee, from the ground 
of the heart, for Thy Saving Grace, as well 
as for Thy glorious Confession, that Thou 
art a King ! V erily. Thou art the King of 
Heaven and Earth. Oh, be Thou King 
over my whole heart ! Thy Kingdom is 
an Everlasting Kingdom ; oli, make me a 
Subject of that Kingdom, that I may live 



cp 



THE THIRTEENTH HOUR, 



81 



under Thy rule, and serve Thee in Right- 
eousness and Holiness I Thou saidst that 
for this cause Thou didst come into the 
World, that Thou mightest bear witness 
to the Truth, and that whosoever is of 
the Truth heareth Thy Voice. Yea, Lord, | 
Thou art the Truth I Do Thou give me an j 
upright heart. Make me to love Truth, i 
and hate Falsehood ; and may the sign 
which Thou hast given, to recognize those 
who are of the Truth, be found in me. 

God of all grace I we come to Thee 

With broken, contrite hearts ; 
Give what Thine eye delights to see — 

Truth in the inward parts. 

Lord Jesus, Pilate bears witness to Tliine 
Lmocence! Judas had already done so. 
But now the judge himself makes manifest 
Thy sinlessness, that all may see that Thou 
dost suffer for the sins of others, and not 
for Thine own. Oh, praise be to God, that 





82 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMEIn[T. 



Thou hast paid that which Thou didst never 
owe ! But Satan would have gladly des- 
troyed all our confidence, by, if it were pos- 
sible, affixing some appearance of sin on 
the Lamb without Blemish and without 
Spot. Therefore he urged his tools to ac- 
cuse Thee afresh. Thou didst bear it in 
silence, as a sheep before her shearers is 
dumb ! Lord Jesus, enable me to imi- 
tate Thee by Faith ! When the Adversary 
accuses me, let me answer only by taking 
refuge in Thine Innocence, and thy Right- 
eousness ! 

We sinned, and Jesus died. 

0, My Saviour, in all sufferings, teach 
me the great art of being quiet, that I may 
not sin by excuses or complaints ! Do 
Thou be my example ! Pilate wondered at 
Tliy silence ; but had he known the secret 
of it, he would have wondered still more. 
But he never mquired the cause ; and thus 



THE THIRTEENTH HOUR. 83 

it is even now with the World. May it be 
otherwise with me ! Give me an attentive 
and obedient heart, for the sake of Thine 
own sufferings ! 

O for a heart to praise my God, 

A heart from sin set free, 
A heart that ahvays feels the blood 

So freely spilt for me ; 
A heart resigned, submissive, meek. 

My great Redeemer's throne, 
Where only Christ is heard to speak, — 

Where Jesus reigns alone. 



FROM SEVEN TO EIGHT FRIDAY MORNING. 



MEDITATIOK. 

This was the Hour in which the Friend 
of Sinners was led before Herod, who was 
exceeding glad when he saw Jesus ; not 
that he longed for Salvation, but because 
he hoped to have seen seme Miracle done 
by Him. But, as Our Saviour, in His wis- 
dom, saw not fit to do this, Herod with his 
Men of War set Him at nought and mocked 
Him, and arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe ; 
while, in the meantime, tlie Chief Priests 
and Scribes vehemently accused Him. But 
the Lamb of God answered not a word, 
either to the accusations or the questions. 
Ah ! how much did Jesus in that Hour 



THE FOUHTEEXTH HOUR. 85 

bear, atone for, and purchase ; and all for 
Sinners ! ^ 

PEAYER. 

Lord JesHs, Thou Model of Suffering, 
and of Love, how shall I thank Thee for all 
the suffering Thou didst take upon Thy- 
self, in this Hour! Do Thou make me a 
sharer in rich abundance in all that Thou 
didst purchase for us in this Hour ! and at 
this time of the Morning do Thou draw my 
heart and my thoughts to Thy wondrous 
Love, and Thine unwearied Faithfulness ! 
Let me learn wisdom and gentleness, pa- 
tience and quietness, from Thy holy behav- 
ior. Arm me for the whole day with a 
mind like Thine. May Thy submission to 
the Authority of the Powers of this World 
free me from the Power of Darkness ! May 
Thy standing before the Judgment-seat save 
me from being put to shame before the 

1 Luke xxiii. 6 — 11. 



86 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 

Judgment-seat of God ! May Thy gentle- 
ness and meekness be an Atonement for 
my revengeful, impatient heart ! The white 
robe, wherein Herod arrayed Thee, my 
Spotless Redeemer, was a sign of Thy holi- 
ness and Innocence. May these be the per- 
fect covering of my sins ! And, as Thou 
wast clad in mockery, at the time when I 
usually clothe myself, may I remember this 
with humble thankfulness at that Hour ! 
May that Robe of Thine sanctify the wliite 
garment in which my body will lie in the 
grave ! 

Lord Jesus, all the contempt and scorn 
which Thou didst then endure, follows Thee 
daily, even on the Throne of Thy glory. 
Oh, fill my heart with holy awe for Thy 
Majesty, that I may never dishonor Thee ! 
May Thy holy Spirit reveal Thee to my soul 
in Thine Unspeakable Glory, that I may 
prize Thee far above all things ; and esteem 
it my highest honor to serve Thee, and to 



THE FOURTEENTH HOUR. 



87 



fall low in the dust before Thy footstool ! 
May I never despise Thee in Thy members, 
who are despised by the World ; but may 
I honor Thine Image in them, and esteem 
them better than myself! As Thou, 
Lord, wast made an object of contempt, 
so may I despise the World and all its fol- 
lies ! Do Thou lift up the light of Thy 
countenance upon me, in life, in suffering, 
and especially in death. Oh, be Thou my 
refuge in all time of need ; and give me 
such strength and confidence through the 
knowledge of Thy Love, that I may smile 
at Death itself! Grant this for the sake 
of Thine own Merits ! 



FROM EIGHT TO NINE FRIDAY MORNING. 



MEDITATION. 

Now our Most Precious Saviour was 
again led before Pilate, who endeavored 
to convince the Chief Priests, Elders, and 
people, of the innocence of Jesus, that he 
might release Him. He offered them the 
choice between Him and Barabbas ; but the 
blinded people were so prejudiced against 
the spotless Saviour, that they would hear 
of nothing but His Death, and preferred 
the murderer Barabbas to Him. " Not this 
man, but Barabbas ! " cried they with one 
voice ; and when Pilate asked what he 
should do with Jesus : Crucify Him ! cru- 
cify Him ! " cried they so vehemently, that 
the heathen Pilate gave up Jesus to their 



THE FIFTEENTH HOUR. 89 

will. His Accusers declared Him worthy 
of Death. His judge, and the wife of His 
judge, acknowledged Him to be innocent ; 
and yet Pilate caused him to be scourged ! ^ 

PRAYER. 

my Perfect and Most Precious Surety, 
here I see clearly that Thou standest in 
my stead ! None could with truth bring 
an Accusation against Thee. Thine Inno- 
cence was repeatedly acknowledged ; and 
yet Thou must suffer ! The murderer is 
released, and Thou remainest captive. The 
transgressor, worthy of death, the murderer 
and rebel, such as Barabbas was, — that am 
I, But I need not fear being left in need, 
in Death, or in Condemnation, for Thou 
freest me from them all. Thou hast said. 
Whosoever belie veth on Me shall not come 
into condemnation, but is passed from death 
unto life." This hast Thou purchased for 

1 Luke xxiii. 13—25; Mark xv. 6—15; Matt, xxvii. 
15—23. 



8* 



■ ■ ' = 

90 THE GREAT DAY OF ATO^sTEMENT. 

me : and yet, though Thou art so complete 
a Saviour, scarcely any one longs for Thee. 
The High Priests, the Scribes, and the 
whole people desired that Thou shouldst 
be cut off out of the land of the living. 
They shouted and cried without ceasing, 
" Away with Him ! " Pilate also knew not 
what to do with Thee, and therefore de- 
manded, " What shall I do, then, with Je- 
sus, that is called Christ ? " But, Lord, 
I cannot do without Thee ! Thou great- 
est Gift from Heaven, oh, come unto me ! 
for Thou art made unto me of the Father, 
Wisdom, Righteousness, and Sanctification 
and Redemption ! All these I need, and 
can find nowhere but in Thee. Pilate de- 
livered Thee to the will of the people. Thy 
Father delivered Thee up to me ! Oh, may 
I never behave to Thee according to my 
perverted natural will ; for that is enmity 
against Thee,^ and would crucify Thee, and 

1 Eph. ii. 



THE FIFTEENTH HOUR. 91 



deny that Thou art a King ! But may I 
receive Thee with that goodwill which has 
been wrought in me by Thy Spirit ; and 
which I beseech Thee to purify, to sanctify, 
to confirm, and strengthen more and more ! 
So shall I receive Thee by Faith, as my 
High Priest, Prophet, and King. Espec- 
ially at this Hour, from 8 to 9, may T re- 
member that I shall have to give account 
of the manner in which I have received 
Thee. Do Thou j)reserve me from all neg- 
lect of Thy Grace. May I hold Thee fast ; 
and say, with the Bride in the Canticles, 
" My Beloved is mine, and I am His ! " 
and with the Patriarch Jacob, " I will not 
let Thee go, except Thou bless me ! " 
Teach me to rest my hopes in my morn- 
ing prayer on the merits Thou didst gain 
for me at this Hour. May Thy remaining 
under condemnation give me Faith to call 
on my Judge, as Abba, my reconciled 
Father! May it give me joy and confi- 





I 92 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 

deuce in the Day (3f Judgment ; and grace, 
daily to condemn myself as a Sinner, wor- 
1 thy of Death, and of Hell, and to fly to 
Thee ! 



FROM NINE TO TEN FRIDAY MORNING. 



MEDITATION. 

What frightful misusage did the Son of 
God endure in this Hour ! The soldiers 
took Him as wolves seize an innocent lamb ; 
dragged him forth, bound Him to a pillar, 
scourged Him with fury, put on Him a pur- 
ple robe, plaited a Crown of Thorns, and, in 
contempt of His kingly dignity, placed it 
on His Sacred Head; put a reed instead 
of a Sceptre in His hand, and then smote 
Him with it. They bent the knee before 
Him in mockery, and hailed Him as King ; 
and then led Him again to Pilate, who, 
probably, by the words, Behold the Man ! " 
wished to move the people to pity, and who 
exerted himself again to set Him free. But 



94 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 

the Blood drawn by the Scourge, and the 
Crown of Thorns did not satisfy them. 
They still cried, Crucify Him ! crucify 
Him ! " But as Pilate fully acknowledged 
the perfect Innocence of Jesus, he publicly 
declared that he was innocent of the Blood 
of this Just Person ; whereupon the people 
cried unanimously, His blood be upon us, 
and upon our children ! " Pilate then com- 
manded Him to be crucified. A whole life- 
time would not be enough to meditate on 
this ; much more should the Hour in which 
this was done to our Faithful Substitute, 
be dedicated to the consideration of it. 
Oh, what blessing might we not find, if, 
through grace, we were more diligent in 
this Holy Work ! ^ 

PRAYER. 

1. Thou Suffering Lamb of God, grant 

1 Matt, xxvii. 24—32; Mark xv. 15—20; John xix. 12— 
IG. 



THE SIXTEEXTH HOUR. 95 



me grace to profit by that wliicli Thou at 
this tmie didst endure ! But none know 
my poverty and weakness better than Thou. 
I bow before Thee, acknowledging my great 
unfaithfuhiess and neglect, and heartily be- 
seech Thee to pardon me. I lay hold of 
the Blood of Reconciliation which Thou 
didst shed during this Hour, that I may 
be cleansed thereby. I take refuge in the 
wounds Thou didst then receive, and im- 
plore Thee to give me sufficient grace to 
profit by them during the rest of my life. 
Thou wert stripped, and both Thine own 
garments, and those which in mockery were 
put upon Thee, were stained with Thy 
Blood. Oh, may these sacred stains cover 
the stains on my soul, which the love of 
dress has made there ! May they be the 
means of preserving me from the misuse 
of dress ! Thou wert scourged. The words 
are few, but the stripes and suffering many 
and great ; and the Love that led Thee to 

m 



90 



THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



undertake this heavy burden is indescrib- 
able. Ah, Lord Jesus, how hast Thou suf- 
fered for my self-indulgence and delicacy 
and tenderness ! May the Blood Thou didst 
lose by the scourge purchase forgiveness for 
all my sins, especially those of the body. 

Upon Thy blood-stained form, O Jesus, 
I find my passport bright display, 
In writing red, " I make you free, 
My well-beloved ones, are ye. 

For all your guilt is done away." 

Yea, give me, Lord Jesus, all that Thou 
didst win and intend for me, by endur- 
ing the scourge, so that I may know that 
these — 

Precious drops my soul bedewing, 
Plead and claim my peace with God ! 

May all who thirst, come to Thee, and 
drink of this Fountain ! Do Thou awaken 
this thirst in us, and then satisfy it ! Thou 





THE SIXTEENTH HOUR. 



97 



didst compare those who sconrged Thee to 
ploughers : The ploughers ploughed upon 
my back, and made long furrows ; " ^ thus 
showing lis how deep was Thy suffering. 
Now, Q Lord, fill my heart with gratitude 
to Thee ! At length Thou wast loosed 
from the pillar to which they had bound 
Thee. There should I have endured the 
fatigue and the shame, the contempt and 
the anguish, which Thou bidst bear to free 
me from them. Lord Jesus, may I, from 
Love to Thee, and for the sake of Thy suf- 
fering, overcome all my self-indulgence, 
and bring under my body, and keep it in 
subjection, so that it may no more tempt 
me to sin. Oh, grant me grace for this ! 

There is a fountain filled with blood, 
Drawn from Immanuers veins, 

And sinners washed beneath that flood, 
Lose all their guilty stains. 



1 Psalm cxxix. 3. 




9 




eg ^ 

98 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



2. Lord Jesus, after the scourging 
came mocking ! No healing salve or oil 
was applied* to Thy wounds. Thou didst 
forego all that could have lightened Thy 
suffering, in order to purchase for me so 
many consolations, and so many comforts, 
in the midst of bodily suffering. Thou 
wert clothed with purple : do Thou clothe 
me with Thy Blood ! 

Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness 
My beauty are, my glorious dress ; 
'Mid flaming worlds, in these arrayed, 
With joy shall I lift up my head. 

Thy Holy Head was crowned with Thorns ! 
When an earthly Sovereign is crowned, ev- 
ery one runs to see the ceremony ; but no 
one thinks of this Coronation which brought 
blessing to the whole World. Ah, teach 
my soul to prize Thee and Thy Crown of 
Thorns, which purchased a Crown of Life 
for me ! For Adam's sake the Earth was 



THE SIXTEENTH HOUR. 99 

cursed, and brought forth thorns and this- 
tles. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Thou 
didst wash the Earth with Thy precious 
Blood from the curse pronounced upon her. 
Now Thou didst bear the Thorns ; thus tak- 
ing the curse upon Thyself, and changing 
it into a blessing for us : for all the blessings 
of food and raiment we owe to Thy Thorn- 
crowned Head ! May eyerj pain I suffer 
in my head be sanctified by the remem- 
brance of Thy Crown of Thorns, whereby 
Thou hast purchased for me a Crown of 
Loving-kindness and Tender-mercy ^ in this 
Life, and a Crown of Glory for Eternity. 

May the crown Thou here wast wearing, 

Touch my heart, that I may be 
Always of myself unsparing, 
When and where a foe I see. 
Aid me well, my warfare bold pursuing, 
Devil, world, and flesh, ay, more, subduing. 

Ah,' for the Crown set before me, may I 

1 Psalm ciii. 3. 



100 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



fight the good Fight of Faitli witliout wea- 
riness ! and may the Blood which flowed 
from Thy Sacred Head flow over me, as 
a Living Member of Thy Body, tliat I may 
thereby be anointed a King and Priest for 
ever. ^ 



3. Lord Jesus ! Thy torturers mocked 
Thee, and scoffingiy bowed the knee before 
Thee, because Thy royal dignity was con- 
temptible in their eyes. Oh, reveal Thy- 
self to me in majesty by Thy Holy Spirit 
in my heart, that I may bow before Thee 
with the deepest reverence, and prefer Thy 
reproach to all the honors and splendor of 
the world ! Thou King of Peace ! I need 
not tremble before Thy sceptre ; it is but a 
reed, to show that Thou wilt not break the 
bruised reed of my Faith, but rather up- 
hold it with Thine Almighty Hand. No 

1 Rev. i. 6; 1 Peter, ii. 5 — 9; Psalm cxxxiii. 2. 



THE SIXTEENTH HOUR. 



101 



one need fear for their life, as once Queen 
Esther did, in coming to Thee ; for whoso- 
ever Cometh to Tliee, Thou dost wiUingly 
extend Thy sceptre, and receive them with 
the kiss of Peace. Thou patient Lamb, 
Thou didst submit to all that Thy persecu- 
tors did unto Thee ! Arise, my Soul, 
and offer the precious Blood of Jesus to the 
Father, as part of the precious Ransom paid 
for Thy Soul ! Even Pilate endeavored to 
move the people to compassioii by the sight 
of Thy wounded and bleeding form. May 
Thy Holy Spirit make His words sink deep 
into my soul ! May I behold tlie Man " 
thus bearing the punishment of my sins ; 
thus standing in my stead! May I behold 
and see His great Love ! But, Lord Je- 
sus, Thou knowest how blind I am; how 
little able to see Thee; how willingly 
mine eyes rest on trifles, rather than 
on Thee! Therefore do Thou of Thy 
Mercy, enlighten the eyes of my mind, and 



9* 



102 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



turn them towards Thee and Thy suffer- 
ings, Thou God of Love ! How has the 
human heart been perverted by Sin ! Thine 
inhuman brethren, according to the flesh, 
were moved to rage, instead of compassion ; 
so that, on seeing Thee, they cried so much 
the more, " Away with Him ! away with 
Him ! Crucify Him ! crucify Him ! " Ah, 
my Saviour, just such a heart have I ! In- 
stead of being better than these people, I 
am worse ; for I have far clearer knowledge 
of Thy Love than they ; and yet I have 
often rejected Thee, and put Thee to open 
shame by my Sins ! Oh, may I melt with 
shame and contrition, and cry with the 
strong desire of Faith, " Come, Lord Je- 
sus ! " Oh, do Thou crucify the Old Adam ! 
Lord, strengthen my faith, and increase the 
desires of my soul towards Thee ! 



4. Lamb of God, how wert Thou des- 



THE SIXTEENTH HOUR. 103 

pised ! Thou hast borne all sin ; otherwise 
I must despair. Have mercy upon me, 
Lord Jesus ! Even Pilate confessed that 
Thou wert spotless ; and, as he could pre- 
vail nothing with the people, he took water 
and washed his hands, saying, " I am inno- 
cent of the Blood of this just Person." 
Then cried the people with one voice, His 
Blood be upon us and upon our Children! " 
]\Iy Saviour, I cannot say that I am guilt- 
less of Thy Blood ; nay, I am most guilty 
of it. My sins pressed Thee to the earth 
in Gethsemane ; they were the scourges and 
the thorns that drew blood from Thee ; the 
executioners that tortured Thee ! Truly 
Thou mayest say to me, '\ Thy hands are 
full of Blood ! " Ah, Merciful Lord, I see 
and confess my guilt ; but I cry from a pen- 
itent heart, Thy Blood be upon me, not as 
a curse, but as a blessing, and a purifica- 
tion ! May Thy Blood clothe and adorn 
my Soul, which is vile and naked. May it 



104 THE GREAT DAY OF ATOXEMEXT. 

be to me a glorious ornament. With Thy 
Blood do Thou satisfy and quicken the 
longing and thirsting of my Soul. May 
Thy Blood be as healing balm to My 
wounds. May Thy Blood raise me from 
Death in Sin into Life in God. Yes ; if 
I am to be a sharer in Eternal Joy, it 
must be for the sake of Thy Blood. Grant, 
therefore, Lord Jesus, that Thy Blood 
may be upon me, and upon my children, 
for that purpose for which Thou didst shed 
it ; that is, for the salvation of our Souls ! 

Xow Thy Trial comes to an end ; and, 
though Thy judge acknowledges Thine in- 
nocence, yet Thou art sentenced to the 
Cross. Hereby I see that Thou art the 
Lamb slain from the Foundation of the 
World ; the Lamb who bears the sins of 
the World ; and I know of a surety that 
Thou didst stand in my stead ; in that of 
a Sinner so deeply indebted as myself! 
Now I am free, if, by a Living Faith I 



THE SIXTEExVTH HOUR. 



105 



take Thee for my Surety ; for as my Sure- 
ty wast Thou condemned ; and, therefore, 
God "vvill not cast out a poor sinful worm, 
but will receive me as accepted in the 
Beloved ! Now I may cry with joy, 
Death, where is thy sting ? Grave where 
is thy victory? Thanks be to God, who 
giveth us the Victory through Jesus Christ 
Our Lord ! " Yea, Lord Jesus, worthy 
art Thou to receive Blessing and Honor 
and Glory and Power to all Eternity ! 

Rise, brother, let us aye hold fast 

The word of Jesus to the last ; 

The Lamb to death still let us love, 

For He's the blessed God above. 
To Jesus, Lord, praise, honor, ever be ! 
Were there no Jesus, where, In truth, were we ! 



FROM TEN TO ELEVEN FRIDAY MORNING. 



MEDITATIOK. 

Now the purple robe was taken off ; and 
His own clothes put on Him. How rough- 
ly this was done may be imagined from the 
previous behavior of the soldiery. Truly 
they took advantage of His Divine Patience 
to abuse it. They next laid a heavy Cross 
upon Him, and led Him away to Golgotha. 
But, as His strength failed from the ill- 
treatment He had undergone, they compel- 
led a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, to 
bear the Cross. This was the last and most 
sorrowful journey that our dear Redeemer 
made, in the days of His Flesh, for our 
sakes. With a heavy burden, with exhaust- 
ed strength, bleeding from many wounds, 




THE SEVENTEENTH HOUR. 



107 



He went to His place of Martyrdom; tliere 
to pour out His Blood and His Life, as a 
sacrifice to the Father, for our Ransom. 
! His willingness to suffer was shown in His 
whole behavior, but especially in His words 
to the weeping women who came to meet 
Him. V 

The world's guilt and its children's Thou 
Art bearing as Thou goest ; 
. All sinners' sins Thou bearest now, 

And meek endurance shewest. 



Lord Jesus, make me to know the Fel- 
lowship of Thy Sufferings, Thy Cross, and 
Thy Death ; that I may be made partaker 
of Thy Victorious Resurrection ! All knew 
that the same Jesus, who had taught 



throughout Judea and her borders was now 
about to die ; thus giving the last and high- 
est testimony that He was the long-promised 
Messiah and Saviour of Men. (Is. liii. x.) 

I 1 Matt, xxvii. 31, 32 ; Mark, xv. 20, 21 ; Luke xxii. 24—31. 



PRAYEK. 




108 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



My soul knows Him as such. Neither Thy 
Blood and Thy wounds, nor Thy Cross, nor 
Thy Rejection by Thine Own People can 
make me doubt it. On the contrary, these 
are the sure signs that Thou art my Re- 
deemer. How can I thank Thee for bear- 
ing that heavy Cross, and for taking on 
Thyself the load of all Thy People's Sins ! 
Thou didst bear tliem, and with Thee they 
were nailed to the Cross ! Lord, I deserved 
to be shut out from Thy Free Mercy ; but 
Thou, of Thy Great Love, hast borne my 
Sins also ! Therefore, Lord, I beseech 
Thee to crucify them and bury them ; blot 
them out of Thy Father's sight, and root 
them out of my Heart and Conscience ; 
and give me the joyful Assurance that 
Thou hast wholly taken them away ! 

Thy path led to the Cross, and from thence 
to Heaven ! Shall I desire an easier path 
than Thine ? Ah, make me both willing 
and able to follow in Thy footsteps, Thou 





THE SEVENTEENTH HOUR. 



109 



Captain of Our Salyation! and suffer me 
not to follow any but Thee. 

We have a hard and trying road 



All other paths lead to Hell, but follow- 
ing Thee to the Cross leads to Heaven. 
Give me strength to walk after Thee, and 
uphold me by Thy strong right hand, when 
I am in danger of falling ! The journey 
through life cost Thee very dear, but every 
step of my journey is paid for with Thy 
Precious Blood. Thou hast purchased all 
that I need to nourish and strengthen me 
by the way ; and, if I faint from weakness 
and weariness, I lean on Thee for support. 

Secure, amidst alarms, 



From violence or snares, 
The Lambs He gathers in His arms, 
Or in His bosom bears. 

Through wilds of brier and thorn, 
In darkness if they stray. 



To Thee, in Heaven's blest abode. 




10 




110 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. i 

— ! 

They wander not like waifs forlorn — 
Their Shepherd is their way. 

Lord, do Thou atone for all my falls and 
stumblings ! Do Thou hallow all my ways ! 
If I go to the door of my house, to breathe 
the fresh air, remind me of Thy being led 
forth ; and, when I come in, let me remem- 
ber that Thou didst not return, but gavest 
up Thy Precious Life without the gate. 
Let me " walk up and down in Thy name." 
Thou didst bear the Cross for me, therefore 
let me rejoice that Thou hast borne away 
my Sins ; and whatever Cross Thou dost see 
good to lay upon me, let me bear it will- 
ingly and patiently ! May Thy way to the 
Cross be the subject of my Meditations from 
10 to 11. Let it be as a rich pasture to 
my Soul, filling me with Love and Content ! , 

Soul, then, know thy full salvation, 
Rise o'er sin, and fear, and care, 

Joy to find in every station 
Something still to do or bear. 



THE SEVENTEENTH HOUR. Ill 

Think what, spirit dwells within Thee, 
Think what Father's smiles are Thine, 

Think that Jesus died to win thee, — 
Child of Heaven, canst thou repine ? 

Haste thee on from grace to glory, 
Arm'd by faith and wing'd by prayer, 

Heaven's eternal day before thee, 

God's own hand shall guide thee there. 

Soon shall close thy earthly mission, 
Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days ; 

Hope shall change to glad fruition. 
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise. 



FROM ELEVEN TO TWELVE FRIDAY MORNING. 



MEDITATION. 

The Love of Jesus knows no pause. So 
long as He had breath. His love was un- 
wearied in suffering and doing for our 
sakes. During this Hour gall was offered 
Him to drink ; His clothes were taken off 
for the last time, and he Himself nailed to 
the Cross. The writing which Pilate had 
prepared, was nailed above His head, and 
the soldiers parted His garments among 
them, casting lots for His seamless coat. 
What thinkest Thou, my Soul, of the 
unheard-of sufferings, which Thy Surety 
then underwent for Thee ? Do tlicy not 
deserve to l)c remembered daily at this 



THE EIGHTEENTH HOUR. 113 

Hour with Praise and Thanksgiving for His 
Incomprehensible Love ? ^ 

PRAYER. 

My Dearest Saviour, the more I con- 
template Thy Sufferings and Thy Love, the 
greater depths I see therein. 

Here I '11 sit forever, viewing 

Mercy's streams in streams of blood ; 
Precious drops, my soul bedewing, 

Plead and claim my peace with God, 
Love and grief my heart dividing, 

With my tears His feet I '11 bathe ; 
Constant still in faith abiding, 

Life deriving from His death. 

Lord, let me consider Thy Faithfulness ! 
It was this that made Thee taste the bitter 
cup of vinegar, mingled with gall. May 
that draught embitter sin to me, and make 
spiritual things sweet, and worldly things 
unpalatable to me. May it sanctify all the 

1 Matt, xxvii. 33—37; John xix, 19. 



10* 



114 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT . 

refreshments of my soul and body, and be 
a cordial in the last draught that I shall 
drink in this world. 

SECOND MEDITATION. 

Now Thy clothes, perhaps the only pos- 
session Thou couldst call thine own in this 
world, were taken from Thee. Thou, for 
our sakes, didst become poor, that we for 
Thy sake might become rich, and now Thou 
art deprived of all ! Ah, Lord Jesus, let 
me in like manner be stripped of all self- 
seeking, self-honor, self-love, and self-right- 
eousness ! Give me the grace for this, 
which Thou didst purchase by suffering 
this treatment ! And now, My Precious 
Surety, Thou goest to the Cross, from one 
degree of suffering to a greater. Thy body 
still bleeding with fresh wounds, was bound 
upon the Accursed Tree. Thy former bands 
were loosened that Tliou mightest be bound 
still more cruelly. How didst Thou suffer 




THE EIGHTEENTH HOUR. 



115 



for the Bondage of Sin, wlierewith I allow 
myself to be fettered ! Loose me, Lord, 
from this bondage, and bind me to Thyself 
with " Cords of Love ! " How great were 
Thy sufferings, Thou didst testify of Thyself 
in the 22d Psalm: — ''All my bones are 
out of joint. I may tell all my bones." 
They nailed Thy hands and Thy feet. 
Thus didst Thou give up Thine own Body 
to all manner of suffering for my sake ! 



Lord, thou being innocent and suffering 
thus, didst Thou not call for Vengeance on 
those who crucified Thee ? Does not Thine 
innocent Blood cry aloud for punishment 
on them ? Oh, no ! Thy Blood speaketh bet- 
ter things than that of Abel ; it calls down 
Mercy, and not judgment ! Thou didst not 
come to judge the World, but that the World 
through Thee might be saved. Thou didst 
pray for Thy murderers ! Praise be to God 



THIRD MEDITATION. 





116 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 

that Thou didst pray for Thine Enemies, 
and Thy crucifiers ; for in so doing Thoii 
didst pray for me ! By Faith I claim a 
share in Thine Intercession. My sins which 
nailed Thee to the Cross are thus forgiven, 
for the Father heareth Thee always. 
Thou Meek and gentle Lamb, how should 
I take shame to myself, that my heart and 
my spirit are so little like Thine ! May the 
Love w^hich Thou didst show to Thine Ene- 
mies, melt away all harshness, roughness, 
and variance out of my heart ! May these 
priceless words of Thine, evermore sound 
in my ears, and may I ponder on them more 
and more. 

FOURTH MEDITATION. 

Thou Faithful High Priest, how per- 
fectly didst Thou fulfil Thine Office, on the 
great Day of Atonement ! Thou didst offer 
Thyself for the Sins of Thy People, and 
Thou didst make Intercession for the Sins 




THE EIGHTEENTH HOUR. 



117 



of Thy People with Thine own Blood ! 
Thou hast an Unchangeable Priesthood. 
Let me therefore " come boldly to the 
Throne of Grace, that I may obtain mercy, 
and find grace to help in time of need." 



It was surely not by chance that Pilate 
wrote the superscription, which he placed 
upon Thy Cross, and which he refused to 
change at the request of the Jews. Thgu 
didst hang there between two Thieves, yet 
above Thy head was a writing, and the first 
word on it is Thy Holy name Jesus, My 
soul rejoices to know the meaning of that 
word. Truly Thou art a Saviour. Those 
nails are as it were the seals of Thy Love. 
What need I care if the world reviles me, 
and calls me a hypocrite, a sectarian? — • 
what matters it, if my name is written in 
the Book of Life and on the Palms of Thy 



FIFTH MEDITATION. 



1 Heb. V. 6. 





QrD 

= 

118 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



Hands, — if it is engraven on Thy priestly 
Breastplate and on Thy Heart ? Lord, when 
Thou dost lay any cross upon me, remem- 
ber how weak I am ; lay not Thy hand too 
heavily upon me, but strengthen me with 
Thy Grace ! 

But that writing testified not only Thy 
Name, but whence Thou camest, — Jesus of 
Nazareth; that is, Mary's son, our Brother, 
our Flesh and Blood, our Surety. Thou 
wert called a Nazarite, that is, one conse- 
crated to God. Let me remember that I 
am consecrated to God ; and do Thou keep 
me faithful ! Lastly, this superscription de- 
clares Thee to be " King- of the JeivsJ^ The 
world sees nothing kingly in Thee, but Faith 
acknowledges Thee as a King, even on the 
Cross. Thy Kingdom is not of this world ; 
and who are Thy subjects ? They are the 
true Israel, the pitizens of the Heavenly 
Jerusalem. Lord, make me an Israelite 
indeed, in whom is no guile ! Be Thou my 



THE EIGHTEExN^TH HOUR. 119 

King ; rule Thou in my heart, even in the 
midst of Thine Enemies, and take it for 
Thine own ! My King, My Lord, and My 
God, I have sworn allegiance to Thee, and 
vowed to fight under Thy banner against 
the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. Thou 
hast a threefold right over me : by Creation, 
for Thou didst make me out of nothing ; 
by Redemption, for Thou hast delivered me 
from the power of mine enemies, and pur- 
chased me, not with gold, or with silver, 
but with Thine own precious Blood ; by 
Inheritance, for I am promised unto Thee 
by the Father, and am part of Thine Inher- 
itance ! ^ Lord, do Thou strengthen the 
hand of my Faith, that I may hold fast this 
threefold cord ! And since I cannot keep 
hold of Thee, do Thou hold me up, and I 
I shall be safe. So, Lord, Thou didst hang 
I upon the Cross in Thy threefold character : 
as my Bleeding High Priest, who offers 

1 Psalm ii. 8. 



120 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



Himself for me, who makes intercession for 
me, and blesses me with his outstretched 
hands ; as my true Prophet, in whom all is 
fulfilled ; as my everlasting King, who has 
purchased to Himself a peculiar People, 
and who treads all their enemies under His 
feet. And to this threefold office Thou wert 
anointed by Thy own Blood ! The Three 
Titles on that superscription are like three 
Yohmies to me. From the first word, Je- 
sus^^^ my faith reasons thus: — If this is 
my Jesus, my Saviour and Redeemer, who, 
thus bleeding and wounded, hangs upon the 
Cross, then am I saved and redeemed from 
all my enemies. Is He, Jesus of Naza- 
reth ? then, is He the Promised Messiah, the 
true Nazarene consecrated to God ! Is 
he my Kin^? then am I his blessed sub- 
ject. My faith adds that golden word 
My : " there is no fence round about 
Golgotha, as there was about Sinai ; there 
is no command not to touch tliis Moun- 





THE EIGHTEENTH HOUR. 



121 



tain. J^ay, on the contrary, His Blood 
crietli continually : " Whosoever will, let 
him come and drink of the Water of Life 



Lord Jesus, since thou wert nailed to the 
Cross, must not the Old Man" in me be 
crucified ? Is the old Adam to live, and be 
allowed to continue in sin ? If I would 
have a share in Thine Atonement, I " must 
die imto sin," - and crucify the Old Man in 
the affections and lusts," ^ and refuse him 
everything whereby he might be nourished. 
Thou hast purchased Grace and Strength 
for me ; give me an abundant share of it, 
and grant that my old nature with all its 
evil inclinations, the Body of Sin with all 
its temptations. Sin and the World with all 

1 Exodus, xix. 12. 2 Rom. vi. 10.* s Rom. vi. 6; Gal. 
V. 24. 



freely. 



SIXTH MEDITATION. 





122 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 

their allurements, may be nailed to Thy 
Cross. 

Holy Spirit ! do Thou crucify the old 
Adam within me ; grant that it may daily 
become weaker, and give me fresh patience 
and more zeal whenever I find that the 
I Body of Sin is longer in dying than I ex- 
pected. Enable me to mortify my members 
which are upon the earth. ^ Did my pre- 
cious Saviour pay so dear a price to free me 
from the bondage of sin, and shall I not 
esteem it my greatest bliss to enjoy more 
and more of this freedom ? 

SEVENTH MEDITATION. 

Then, my Saviour, they parted Thy 
Garments among them, and upon Thy Ves- 
ture they did cast lots ; " thus adding a 
fresh proof that Thou wert the True Mes- 
siah of whom this was prophesied. Lord, I 
need a robe as a perpetual covering for my 

1 Col. iii. 5. 



THE EIGHTEENTH HOUR. 123 

spiritual nakedness. Thy Blood, Thy Eight- 
eousness, and Thy Merits are the only cov- 
ering for my Soul. Thou canst endure no 
speck in the marriage garment, and the 
cloak of my own righteousness is covered 
with stains, and it is not only filthy, but in 
rags,^ so that it cannot cover me. I require 
a garment of honor in which I may appear 
before my Heavenly Father with all His 
Angels : 

Jesus, Thy Blood and Klghteousness, 
My beauty are, my glorious dress. 

This is the only garment in which I can 
appear at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. 
With it I may enter in and sup with Him, 
as a Member of His bride ; without it 1 
must be lost for ever ! He who knows his 
own hateful sinfulness, his shame and his 
condemnation, and who therefore longs to 
be cleansed ; who seeks no helper but Thee, 

1 Isaiah Ixiv. 6. 




124 



THE GREAT DAY OF ATOXEMEXT. 



1 and comes to Thee in childlike confidence, 
hungering and thirsting after Thy Right- 
eousness, receives that Robe of Righteous- 

I ness, and is thus made acceptable unto the I 

Father. Now, Lord Jesus, I woidd fain ! 

. ! 

be accepted in Thee, the Beloved ; therefore | 

I beseech Thee to make me grow in Faith 
and Grace, that I may be more fully and 
more certainly a partaker of Thee. 

I hold by Thee, Lamb slain for me, 
I hold by Thee, upon the tree ; 

And by Thine intercession ; 
And by Thy pain and woe untold ; 
And by Thy martyr-death I hold : — 

Thy merits — my possession. 

EIGHTH MEDITATION. 

Ah, my Saviour ! how comforting to me j 
is the company in which Thou wert criici- | 
fied ! they were murderers whose hands 
were stained with innocent blood, rebels 
and sinners above all others ; for this their 




QJO 



(TP 



THE EIGHTEE^^TH HOUR. 



125 



punishment testifies. Oli, what abasement 
of Thee, to offer up Thyself in such com- 
pany ! How can I thank Thee for such 
astonishing Humility ? Doubtless, Thou 
wouldst thereby convince us that Thou art 
the Friend of Sinners. This was Thy re- 
proach on earth : " This man receive tli Sin- 
ners and eatetli with them ; " and to show 
that even in death Thou didst not despise 
them, thou didst suffer thyself to be cru- 
cified between two Thieves. 

Now, Lord Jesus, I too am a murderer ; 
my hands are stained with Thine innocent 
Blood ; I am an evil doer ; but as I ac- 
knowledge my sinfulness, as I know that I 
am lost without Thee, I know that Thou 
wilt receive me. most Merciful Saviour, 
bless to me especially at this Hour, from 11 
to 12 in the forenoon, the consideration of 
Thy Suffering. Grant me the fruits thereof, 
that I may be strengthened with living 
Faith, and hearty Repentance, and quick- 

IF 



126 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



ened unto a new life. At every stroke of 
the clock, may I inwardly cry : Lord Je- 
sus, strengthen me at this Hour, that my 
Old Nature may be slain by the Sword of 
the Spirit, which is the Word of God. j 
Grant me this, Merciful Redeemer, for 
Thine own sake ! | 



FKOM TWELVE TO ONE FRIDAY NOON. 



MEDITATIO]^. 

This is the Hour at which we generally 
refresh our bodies by taking food ; but to 
our faithful Surety, this was an Hour of 
indescribable anguish. He hung on the 
Cross, being made a Curse for us, in the 
most agonizing torments, in darkness, and 
anguish of mind, and subject to the bitter 
mockery of the slaves of Satan around 
Him. In the midst of all, He provided 
His Mother with another Son, and His 
loved Disciple with another Mother, by 
saying : " Woman, behold Thy Son ! " " Be- 
hold Thy Mother ! " He likewise, promised 
Heaven to the penitent malefactor in the 
comforting word : Yerily, I say unto Thee, 



128 THE GREAT BAY OF ATONEMENT. 



this day slialt thou be with Me in Paradise." 
Such events are written down in a minute, 
but eternity is not too long to reflect upon 
them. Therefore, it is well to dedicate 
this Noonday Hour to quiet meditation on 
the Love and the Sufferings of Jesus, — 

Ah, little can I give while here I live, 
But this one grace impart — 

Thy woes and anguish ever, 

Till soul and body sever, 
Cause Thou to rest within my heart. 

At the time when we commonly rest from 
our daily labors, He continued His Work, 
denying Himself both spiritual and bodily 
refreshment for our sakes. ^ 

PRAYER. 

my most precious Surety ! what un- 
heard-of proofs of love to me, an unfaithful 
sinner, didst Thou give at this Hour ! Sanc- 

1 John xix. 26, 26; Luke xxiii. 42, 43. 



THE NINETEENTH HOUR. 



129 



tify the Noonday Hour by the remembrance 
of Thy burning love ! Thou didst hang 
upon the Cross, and became a curse to win 
blessings for me. Who could believe this, 
if Thy Word did not say so ? How dread- 
ful is the meaning of a Curse I All that 
is meant by misery, anguish, anxiety, want, 
and wretchedness, is comprised in it. 
Blessed Saviour, I cannot understand how 
Thou, the Eternal Son of God, the source 
of every blessing, in whom all goodness 
and all blessedness is contained, couldst 
become a Curse. Thy love is too wonder- 
ful for me ; I cannot attain unto it. By 
the Grace of the Holy Spirit, I will believe 
in deep humility of heart ; and in this faith 
I look for all good and blessing from the 
hand of Tliy Heavenly Father ; for the curse 
that was on me — yea, the many curses 
which I have incurred by transgressing 
the Law of God — lie upon Thee! Thou, 
Saint of God, didst not only bear the 



130 THE GREAT DAY OF ATOXEMEXT. 



curse, but wcrt made a curse for us ; for i 
it is "written : Cursed is every one that I 
liaiigotli on a tree/ my Saviour, I cannot i 
comprehend either the length, or breadth, 
or depth, or height of Thy love. Truly it 
passeth knowledge. ^ In the previous Hour, 
Thou hadst bestowed the greatest of all 
gifts, the Forgiveness of Sins ; now Thou 
dost provide for the temporal wants of Tliy 
People. This was ever Thy manner when 
Thou wentest about doing good. First to 
the soul : Be of good cheer, thy sins are 
forgiven thee! " then Thou didst care for 
the body, thus observing the order tauglit 
by Thine own words : Seek ye first the 
Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, j 
and all these things shall be added unto | 
you." 

Lord, teach me always to feel my in- 
ward wants more than my outAvard ones ! 
Thou didst provide Thy ^lother with 

1 Galatians iii. in. 2 Eph. iii. 18. 



THE NINETEENTH HOUR. 131 



another Son. This might have been done 
after Thy Resurrection, but Thou desirest 
to give Mary some comfort now that the 
Sword had pierced through her Soul, and 
now that she was testifying her love and h 
fidelity in standing by Thy Cross. None || 
ever yet stood by the Cross of Christ and 
went away empty-handed. Thy beloved 
Disciple also experienced this : for knowing 
how he would feel Thy loss. Thou gavest 
him Thy dear Mother, as a comfort and as 
a pledge. I see, my Saviour, that it is 
not by toiling day and night that I shall 
obtain earthly blessings. Thy hand can 
make me rich in an hour. Thou hast but 
to say, " This is thine," and I have it. I 
desire nothing that is not Thy gift, for I 
know that Thou wilt deny me nothing that 
is needful for me. Teach me, Lord, to 
receive all things as from Thee ! How often 
hast Thou abundantly covered my table with 
food, and I have scarcely bestowed a thought 



132 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



on Thee, from whose hand it came ! par- 
don tliis sin ; and may I in future receive 
every morsel as a joroof of Thy love ! 
Teach me to use Thy gifts temperately, so 
that no temporal blessing may ever lead me 
away from the Cross. May Thy good Spirit 
lead me in this matter. 

SECOND MEDITATION. 

Lord Jesus, Thou Sun of Righteousness ! 
the Sun of this World, which Thou didst 
create, withdraws His beams, and darkness 
spreads over the face of the earth, as if Na- 
ture could not bear to see the agony of her 
Creator. ^ What Thou didst suffer during 
those three hours of darkness is expressed 
in some of the Psalms, ^ as well as by Thine 
own words at the end of it. " Thou didst 
endure the blackness of darkness for my 
sake. I am not worthy to behold the light 
of the sun, but Thou, the Eternal Light, 

1 John i. 3. 2 ps.,xxii. 1, 2, Jl. 3 Matt, xxvii. 46. 



THE NINETEENTH HOUR. 133 

didst give Thyself in my stead. I am by 
nature a Child of Darkness ; I have loved 
darkness more than Light ; and this Thou 
didst bitterly atone for. I have deserved to 
dwell in darkness forever ; Thou didst enter 
into it to rescue me. Out of immeasurable 
love to Sinners, Tiiou didst drink the Cup 
of Wrath even to the dregs. Teach me, 
Holy Spirit, to know and believe in this love ! 
make me, Lord, a sharer in the merit of 
this Thy Suffering. Be Thou my light, that 
I may follow Tliee ; and hereafter be Thou 
my Sun, in whose beams I and all that are 
saved shall joyfully walk. 

THIRD MEDITATION. 

How hard is the human heart ! One 
would have thought that this season of 
darkness would have brought all Thine 
enemies to reflection; but no, they hard- 
ened their hearts as the nether millstone, 
and poured forth fresh blasphemies against 



12 



134 



THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



Thee, the Lamb of God ! They scorned 
Thee, before whose Majesty every knee shall 
bow. They that passed by laughed Thee 
to scorn ; they reviled Thee, wagging their 
heads, as men show their abhorrence of 
something peculiarly hateful. Lord Jesus, 
Thou art despised and rejected and hateful 
to the natural man ; but be Thou to me 
more and more dear, more precious, more 
indispensable. When I look on Satan, and 
on the World lying in wickedness, then let 
me show my inward disgust and aversion ; 
but when I look on Thee, especially as hang- 
ing on the Cross, do Thou draw me to Thy- 
self with the tenderest cords of love. 

They called on Thee to save thyself: If 
Thou be the Son of God, come down from 
the Cross.'* How can I sufficiently adore 
that faithfulness which prevented Thee from 
helping Thyself, and from coming down 
from the Cross ! If I could thus escape 
from suffering, I should surely do so ; but 




THE NINETEENTH HOUR. 



the old Adam in me is held fast and must 
be cmcified ; for Thou hast 23urchased Grace 
to enable me to endure even unto the end. 
Grant me this grace abundantly, in all time 
of trouble. 

But not only the ignorant people revile 
Thee, but the learned and those in authority, 
who might have rebuked the others. To all 
of them Thou wert A stone of stumbling, 
and a rock of offence." The Chief Priests 
and Scribes taunted Thee just as the people 
had done, saying : He saved others. Himself 
He cannot sa^ve."^ What sweet consolation 
. is contained in these bitter words ! Praise 
be to God, that even Thine enemies were 
compelled to bear this testimony : " He 
saved others!^'' Thou hast holpen all that 
come to Thee, and now Thou wert bringing 
Salvation to the World. Lord, Thou hast i 
saved others, save me also ! that I, too, may 
bear witness to Thy willingness to save ! I 

1 Mark xy.31. 



136 THE GREAT DAY OF ATOXEMEXT.' 



know that I myself am the only hindrance 
to my own Salvation ; do Thou of Thy great 
mercy break down all hindrances in me ; 
turn me, and I shall be turned. Moreover, 
they mock at Thy Threefold Office, saying: 

Let Him save Himself, if He be Christ, 
the chosen of God." ^ my Saviour, let 
me ever hold fast my belief in Thee, as my 
Prophet, Priest, and King ; let me believe 
the testimony of God's Word, in spite of all 
the mockery of Thine enemies. They blas- 
phemed likewise Thy faith and trust in 
God, saying : He trusted in God, let Him 
deliver Him now, if He will have Him.^ 
And they despised Thy Sonship, saying : 

He said I am the Son of God." Lord 
Jesus, Thou Express Luage of the Invisible 
God,^ what a storm of blasphemies and 
revilings fell upon Thee, in the hours of 

1 Luke xxiii. 35; Mark. xv. 32. 

2 Matt, xxvii. 43. 

3 Heb. i. 3; John i. 14; John xiv. 9; 2 Cor. iv. 4; Col. 
i. 14. 





THE NINETEENTH HOUR. 



137 



darkness, when Thou didst hang upon the 
Cross ! How many sins didst Thou atone 
for, in thus bearing the shame, and how art 
Thou still reviled by a blinded World, both 
in Thine own glorious person, and in Thy 
members. Ah ! when it is my turn to suf- 
fer despite, grant me Thy quiet, meek, and 
lamb-like mind ; when Satan takes advant- 
age of trouble to make me doubt the real- 
ity of my faith, my Election by Grace, or 
my Sonship, then remind me how Thou 
wert assailed upon the Cross ; and grant, 
Lord Jesus, that my Faith may be the 
more strengthened by these attacks ! May 
Thy patience under shame and contempt be 
a source of blessing and praise to us ! 



Lord Jesus, Thou wert reviled, even 
by the malefactors who were crucified with 
Thee ! But one of them having rebuked 
the other, said unto Thee : Lord, remem- 



FOURTH MEDITATION. 




12* 




138 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 

ber me, when Thou comest into Thy King- 
dom." Then Thou gavest him the blessed 
assurance: ''Yerily, I say unto Thee, this 
day Thou shalt be with Me in Paradise."^ 
Lord, may I learn of the Penitent Thief; 
how decided was his confession of Thee ! 
how strong his confidence ! how entirely did 
he cast in his lot with Thine ! And how 
encouraging is his example ; for he had 
hardly spoken before Thou didst give him 
an answer far beyond his hopes ! Thou 
didst promise him far more than he had 
asked. Truly Thou waitest to be gra- 
cious." Before we call. Thou dost answer; 
and while we are yet speaking Thou dost 
hear. The greater our need, the more 
speedy is Thy help. Thou wert not asham- 
ed of Sinners upon earth, and far from being 
ashamed of them in Heaven ; Thou dost carry 
them up thither as the spoils of Thy Vic- 
tory. Thy Father, who best knows Thy lov- 

1 Luke xxiii. 



THE NINETEEJ^TH HOUR. 



139 



ing heart towards sinful man, gave Thee 
this promise as the reward of Thy glorious 
work : ''He shall see of the travail of His 
Soul and be satisfied. I will divide Him a 
portion with the great, and He sliall divide 
the spoil witli tlie strong ; because He hath 
poured out his Soul unto death." Thou 
wouldst not enter into Heaven without tak- 
ing a poor Sinner with Thee. Surely this 
example would be enough to melt my heart, 
if I knew nothing else of Thee. But, alas ! 
I know far more ; I have even experienced 
Thy love to Sinners as shown towards mine 
own Soul, and yet there is so mucli unbelief, 
distrust, and indifference towards Thee in 
my evil heart ! Ah, my Saviour, save me, 
I pray Thee, from the evil within me ! May 
I turn to Thee, as the Penitent Thief! may 
the desires of my heart be unto Thee ! and 
as it was on the Cross that he turned to 
Thee, so may every Cross Thou dost lay 

1 Isaiah liii, 11, 12. 



^ — : 

140 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



upon me be a time of turning to Thee more 
and more fully ! Let me shun neither 
shame nor suffering for Thy sake ! And in 
the midst of sorrow and of joy, do Thou, 
Lord Jesus, give me the same blessed assur- 
ance Thou gavest to him ! Remind me of 
the happy end, and make me know, that the 
sufferings of this present time are not wor- 
thy to be compared with the glory that shall 
be revealed in us. Make my faith -strong, 
that I may cling to Thee ; give me a living 
hope of Eternal Life, and fill me with such 
glowing love to Thee, as may make me re- 
joice in tribulation. Grant all this for the 
sake of Thine own unspeakably precious 
merits. 



®totntietl] fflwr. 

FROM ONE TO TWO FRIDAY AFTERNOON. 



MEDITATION. 

From the narrative of the Evangelists, it 
appears that during this Hour our Saviour 
hung upon the Cross in silent anguish. 
How much must he have spoken in secret 
to His Father ! how many sighs and tears 
must He have sent up on high ! how did 
His Blood cry aloud for grace to sinners, 
while it was paid down as an Eternal Ran- 
som for them ! Surely doing and suffering 
were not divided. His Holy Soul contin- 
ued to work with all His might for our Sal- 
vation, and for the same purpose to endure 
suffering with all His strength ! As His 
inward sufferings in the garden of Olivet 
rose to their greatest height as they ap- 




TO 



142 



THE TWENTIETH HOUR. 



proached their end, so His outward anguish 
went on increasing in the Judgment-hall 
and upon the Cross until they reached their 
summit, and our most Precious Surety tast- 
ed as it were the very " pains of Hell " for 
us. Outwardly all was now still ; but within, 
the floods of sorrow passed over Him, deep 
called unto deep, all the waves and billows 
of tribulation rolled over His head. Satan, 
as a roaring lion, assailed Him, knowing 
, that his time was short. Our iniquities took 
hold of Him : it pleased the Lord to bruise 
Him and put Him to grief ; ^ but he fought 
the good fight of faith, and under the hid- 
ing of God's face, feeling Himself forsaken 
by the Father, still He trusted in Him, and 
overcame a far greater wrestling than that 
which Jacob endured! His sacred body 
was full of suffering ; and surely His strong 
crying and tears reached the heart of His 
Heavenly Father, and His sacrifice came up 



Isaiah liii. 







THE TWENTIETH HOUR. 



143 



before the mercy seat as incense. How 
well-pleasing must have been the obedience, 
even nnto Death, the unshaken faith, the 
low^ly patience, and the perfect love of His 
Beloved Son ! Ah, may every redeemed 
sinner weigh and lay to heart the consider- 
ation of this Hour of silent suffering of Him 
whose name is Love. ^ 



Lord Jesus, teach me to do this. May 
I daily learn in inward quietness of Soul 
to consider with a repentant and believing 
heart, the greatness of Thy Son and Thine 
unheard-of sufferings ! Li this Hour Thou 
didst hang in darkness, forsaken and bereft, 
not only of friends and acquaintances, not 
only of Holy Angels, and of all spiritual 
refreshment, peace, comfort, and joy, — but 
of God Himself; forsaken by the Father, 
whose Eternal and Co-equal Son Thou art. 



PRAYER. 



1 Matthew xxvii. 39—4-3. 





144 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



At the end of these three Hours of dark- 
ness, Thou didst cry, ''My God! my God! 
why hast Thou forsaken me ? " Of the deep 
mystery hidden in these words, we in our 
weakness know little or nothing: only in 
the light of Eternity shall we learn to un- 
derstand them. Outward darkness was only 
an image of the " power of darkness " 
under which Thy most Holy Soul labored, 
and in which it was borne down by the hell- 
deserving sins of men, and the just wrath 
and curse of God, which the Divine Law 
declares to be the wages of Sin. In short. 
Thou didst endure the agony of the Lost, 
so far as they consist in suffering ; for the 
sin, blasphemy, and despair by which the 
Souls of the Damned increase their torment 
were unknown to Thy spotless human Soul. 
Thy unfailing love to Thy Father and to us 
sinners. Thy faithfulness and truth. Thy 
childlike confidence. Thine unshaken faith. 
Thy meek patience, and Thy Divine meek- 





THE TWENTIETH HOUR. 



145 



ness, shone forth even in the dark night of 
Thy deepest Suffering, and declared Thee 
to be the Everlasting Son of the Father ! 



Lord, I should have lain down in Hell — 
I should have been a prey to Eternal Death, 
hadst not Thou suffered these pains for me, 
and, by giving up Thyself, purchased my 
freedom. Lord, let me never, never forget 
what it cost Thee to redeem me. Thou 
wert forsaken of God to purchase for me 
the closest union and communion with 
Him, and to allow of His Love being shed 
abroad in my heart. Who can tell the 
merit and the worth of Thy suffering on 
that account, or the merit of Thy unchang- 
ing Faitli, when Thou didst bear the whole 
weight of my heinous unbelief! Thus didst 



Hell was our just desert, 
And he that hell endured ; 

Guilt broke His guiltless heart, 
With wrath that we incurred. 




13 




146 



THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



Thou purchase for me Grace to believe and 
to know that God is my reconciled Father 
in Thee ; not only when I taste Thy Grace 
and Thy Love, but also when Thou hidest 
Thy face from me, and when my Soul feels 
nothing but need and weakness, and shame 
and sin. That in such a case I am allowed 
to believe, is great Grace, — but that in 
such a case I am enabled to believe, is still 
greater. Lord, grant that in the hour 
of darkness I may still, like Thee, know 
God to be my God." Watch Thou over 
my little spark of faith, and by the merits 
of Thy faith, Thy prayers. Thy sighs and 
tears, be Thou my Light in Death! May 
Thy anguish win comfort for me, may Thy 
sighs cause mine to be heard, may Thy 
prayers speak for me. Thy tears sanctify 
mine, and may Thy desertion by the Father 
be the ground of my hope of an Everlasting 
Union with God ! 





THE TWENTIETH HOUR. 



147 



SECOND MEDITATIOK. 



Lord, what can I fitly say or write of 
Thee ! Therefore, I pray Thee to enlighten 
my heart as to the greatness of Thy Love, 
in taking upon Thee the pains of Hell for 
my sins. Let not Thy sufferings be useless 
to me, or any who are dear to me. By Thy 
precious Blood, which Thou didst shed for 
us ; by the anguish which Thou didst en- 
dure, as a Lamb dumb before her shearers ; 
by the pains of Hell, which took hold upon 
Thee — grant that we may be partakers of 
all the benefits of Thy Death! Lord Jesus! 
as Thy Sufferings increased, so did Thy 
Love ; " the handwriting of ordinances that 
w^as against us," wdiich was contrary to us, 
was more and more blotted out. One 
stroke after another defaced the register 
of my sins, and soon after Thou didst 
cry, " It is finished ! " Then was my Sal- 



1 Cul. ii. 14. 





148 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



vatioii completed ! Why, then, Lord 
Jesus, has not my grateful love to Thee 
risen to a greater height ? Yihj is my 
cold, hard heart not more touched and soft- 
ened by the consideration of Thee ! Why 
am I not more faithful, more gentle and 
meek, more humble, more loving ? In a 
word, why is not my evil heart more en- 
tirely changed ? merciful Saviour ! it is 
my fault, and my sin, that it is so. I have 
profited little by Thy love and merits. I 
have been slothful ; my wandering thoughts 

I have not been fixed on Thee. I have not 

i 

mortified the old Adam within by denying 
him all nourishment. I have not implored 
Grace, and all the fruits of Thy Sufferings, 
with the importunate energy of a starving 
beggar. Lord Jesus, make me faitliful to 
Thee ! May I henceforth live to Thy Glory ; 
and do Thou wash me from all my sins ! 
That which wanders, do Thou recall ; that 
wliich is stubborn, do Thou bend ; that 



THE TWENTIETH HOUR. 149 

which is hard, do Thou soften ; that hence- 
forth I may live and move in Thee alone ! 
Teach me to praise Thee for This Hour. 
Praise the Lord, my Soul, and all that 
is within me, praise His Holy Name ! As 
Jesus suffered for me in Soul, as well as 
in His Sacred Body and Members, may my 
soul and body, and every member and every 
faculty, be dedicated to Him. 

Thine, wholly Thine, we want to be, — 

Our sacrifice receive ; 
Made and preserved, and saved by Thee, 

To Thee ourselves we give. 

Come, Holy Ghost, our Saviour's love, 

Shed in our hearts abroad, 
So shall we ever live and move, 

And be with Christ in God. 



Lord, how little can I offer to Thee ! 
Grant that, at least, I may ever remember 
Thy wondrous Love ! 



150 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



Kemember Thee and all Thy pains, 

And all Thy love to me ; 
Yea, while a breath, a pulse remains, 

Will I remember Thee. 

And when these failing lips grow dumb. 
And mind and memory flee ; 

When Thou shalt in Thy kingdom come, 
Jesus, remember me ! 



FROM TWO TO THREE FRIDAY AFTERNOON. 

MEDITATION. 

A MOST important Hour ; in which the 
Eternal Word ^ speaks, in which the Foun- 
tain of Living Waters faints with thirst, in 
whicli the Self-existent Life dies upon the 
Cross. The end of His Sorrow was not yet 
come. He must suffer yet another Hour 
in Body and in Soul. If the other Hours 
of His agony are so worthy of contempla- 
tion, this is even more so. If it were not 
for the Love and Faithfulness of this. His 
Last Hour, we poor sinners would still be 
in our misery, and throughout Eternity 
there would be no hope of Redemption 
for us. This was the Hour on which our 

1 John i. 1. 



152 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



Salvation hung: an Hour worthy of all 
the Hallelujahs of Heaven; for there above 
shall we fully know from what Jesus, by 
His bloody, agonizing, and meritorious 
Death, hath saved us, poor sinners ! 
may His Spirit teach us to praise and glo- 
rify Him, with the deepest humility, here 
below by our lives, and above throughout 
Eternity ! ^ 

PRAYER. 

Thou, Lord of my Salvation, perfected 
through suffering, the Last Hour of Thy 
holy Life is now come. Every hour of that 
Life was spent for my good, for my Salva- 
tion ! Oh !' could I but say that every hour 
of my life had been spent in Thy service, 
and to Thy glory. But Thou, my all-seeing 
Saviour, knowest that not one hour of my 
life has been wholly devoted to Thee ; and 
most of them, alas ! have been wholly lost. 

1 Luke xxiii. 46; Mat. xxvii. 46 — 50. 



THE TWENTY-FIRST HOUR. 



153 



Lord, may my lifetime be swallowed up in 

Thine! May Thy Last Hour on Earth 

cover and atone for both my past and 

future life : let me offer it as such to my 

Heavenly Father. May the merits of that 

Hour procure for me Grace to live unto 

Thee ; may I remember my last hour at 

all times, just as Thou didst continually 

look forward to Thine ! Grant me Grace 

in nowise to fear Death, but heartily to 

rejoice at the prospect of it, with child-like 

confidence in Thy presence, and in the sure 

hope of my perfect Redemption ! For Thou 

hast taken away all that is terrible in Death, 

and sweetened it to the Believer, who, by 

the strength of Thy Death, can smile at his 
own. 

Thy breaking heart be, when I die, 
A resting-place for me in dying ; 
Seal me an heir of Heaven high, 

To pure enjoyment change my sighing. 
O hear me, Jesus, and grant that to me. 
Thy heart may my bed in my last trouble be. 



154 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



The Gospel narrative shows, that during 
most of this Hour Thou didst suffer in 
silence, and didst in this wise pay the pen- 
alty of, and atone for, all the sinful, impa- 
tient, distrustful words whicli I have uttered 
in time of trouble. Lord, how can I thank 
Thee aright for those words, My God ! my 
God ! why hast Thou forsaken me ? " With- 
out them, I had not known that Thou hadst 
tasted Hell for me ; and what a feeling of 
security should I have lost ! But who can 
tell what Thou didst endure at that time ! 
my Saviour, when I cry unto Thee from 
the depths of distress or sorrow, whether in 
life or in death, do Tliou graciously hear 
me ; do Tliou think on Thine own anguish 
at that Hour, and for the sake thereof, grant 
me peace and joy. ' 

Every word in Thy sorrowful cry is of im- 
portance. That sweet word of faith " My " 
sweetens the whole of it. Teach me thus 
to begin all my prayers, and in faith to call 



THE TWENTY-FIRST HOUR. 



155 



on God as my Father. But on the Cross 
there was nothing that Thou didst count 
as Thine, save God Himself, the Highest 
good. Thou wast spoiled of everything 
j else, and although, to all outward appear- 
ance, even Thy God had withdrawn Him- 
self from Thee; although, as far as feeling 
goes, Thou didst hang there forsaken even 
by Him ; yet Thy divine Faith had powder I 
still to claim Him as Thine Own, and to 
cry ''My God! My God!" Ah, let me 
learn of Thee, Lord Jesus, and for the sake 
of Thy Faith grant me like Faith. 

The name of Father did not pass Thy 
lips. Thou wast the Surety of the human 
race, and as such He had '' become cruel to 
Thee."^ Thy Father no longer appeared 
as a Father but as a Judge, for Thou didst 
stand in the stead of rebels. And this 
shows me still greater depths in Thy deser- 
tion by God. Teach me to meditate thereon. 

1 Job XXX. 21. 



G^- - : l:^ 

156 TqE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



Thou askest " why ? " Thou knowest 
why it was ; but Thou wouldst teach me 
to take up this questiouj and to inquire 
lah?/ Thou didst endure such untold agony ? 
Ah! the answer is plain. It was because 
of my sins, my twofold sin ; because I had 
left the living God, the Fountain of Life, 
and because I had made to myself cis- 
terns, broken cisterns, that can hold no 
water. Therefore wast Thou forsaken, that 
I might be re-united to Him. Another 
word was forsaken," the most fearful 
word for a sinner. A forsaken state is 
a sorrowful state. It is hard to be for- 
saken by men, to be in poverty, pain, and 
disgrace ; but to be forsaken by God is no 
less than Hell. Preserve us from this, 
Lord God ! Ah ! my Saviour, what pain it 
must have given Thee to hear even Thy cry 
of anguish made a mockery of and pervert- 
ed. But it was needful that Thou shouldest 
experience every kind of suffering, that 





THE TWENTY-FIRST HOUR. 



157 



Thou miglitest pay the penalty of every 
kind of sm. Glory and praise to Thee 
throughout Eternity, and do Thou make 
sin exceeding sinful, and my natural self 
hateful in my eyes. Thou saidst, " ilTe." 
^^Why hast Thou forsaken Me!'' Thine 
obedient and only begotten Son, one with 
the Father! Ah! my Redeemer, it was 
because none but Thou, the perfect Man 
and the Omnipotent God, could have borne 
what Thou didst bear to redeem us from 
Death and Hell. 



Now, Lord Jesus, Thou didst suffer the 
most dreadful thirst during four-and-twenty 
hours. No drop of water had entered Thy 
parched mouth, and yet Thou hadst poured 
out Thy life-juices as water. The fire of 
Divine wrath consumed Thee ; and Thou, 
the Fountain of Living Water, didst long 
for a draught of any kind of water ; but in 



SECOND MEDITATION. 




14 




158 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



vain. I who am worthy of Hell, can quench 
my thirst when I will. I have not only 
water, l)ut other refreshments at command, 
and Thou, the Creator of all things, didst 
get only vinegar and gall to quench Thy 
thirst ! Thus didst Thou atone for my self- 
indulgence and luxury. Therefore let me 
never enjoy anything that quenches thirst 
without thanksgiving and praise to Thee, 
who didst purchase that and every other 
blessing at so dear a rate for me. From 
that eternal thirst of which the rich man ^ 
complained in Hell didst Thou by this suf- 
fering redeem me ; therefore fill me with 
that hunger and thirst after righteousness 
which shall surely be satisfied.^ But Thy 
thirst was not only bodily but spiritual. 
Thy weary heart longed for comfort, peace, 
and spiritual refreshment. As the hart 
panteth after the water-brooks, so Tliy soul 
thirsted for God. And thus thy fainting 

1 Luke xvi. 24. 2 Matt. v. 6. 



THE TWENTY-FIRST HOUR. 



159 



Spirit purchased for iis all spiritual and 
eternal comfort and refreshment. But Thou 
didst also thirst after my son I, and long for 
its salvation. Thou wast not satisfied with 
doing and suffering according to Thine 
eternal Covenant with the Father, all that 
'was needful for my salvation ; but Thou 
also doest all that is needful to draw me to 
I Thyself, that I may be a partaker of the 

I Redemption which Thou hast wrought. 

i 

Thou didst long to see the travail of Thy 
soul ; to see many, learning what sin really 
is, turning to Thee in true repentance, be- 
lieving in Thee with their whole hearts, and 
being cleansed in Thy blood from all their 
guilt, living in love and to Thy glory. Ah, 
may I in like manner thirst after Thee ! 



THIRD MEDITATION. 

Then, my Saviour, what words of com- 
fort didst Thou utter? "It is finished ! 



160 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



Thou didst not say ivhat was finished, but 
Thy Spirit has taught me, and I know that 
it was the great work of Redemption, which 
Thou, out of saving Love, didst take upon 
Thyself, and in which no creature, no, nor 
the united strength of all created beings 
together, could have performed anything. 
It was that work on which the salvation of 
thousands, and mine among them depended; 
it was that work on account of which the 
Father loveth Thee, as Thou didst testify, 
Therefore doth my Father love me, be- 
cause I lay down my life;"^ that great 
work, for which blessing, and honor, and 
glory, and power, ^ will be ascribed to Thee 
throughout all Eternity. The Scriptures 
were all fulfilled. Salvation was accomplish- 
ed, Wrath was turned into Grace, all ene- 
mies were conquered, all the demands of 
the Law fulfilled, Lleaven opened, and the 
hand-writing against us, which was contrary 

1 John X. 17. 2 Rev. v. 9—13. 





THE TWENTY-FIRST HOUR. 



161 



to IIS, taken out of the way." ^ Peace was 
made. between God and man, and we were 
saved. Glorious words, "-It is finished I 
On these may my faith lean and stay itself; 
with these I may answer all the accusations 
of Satan. They should be the watchword 
wherewith Christians should strengthen 
each other. Truly Lord Jesus, Thou didst 
know how to speak a word in season to the 
weary ; these were words of Eternal Life. 
Do Thou write them in my heart and mind ; 
may they be ever present with me ! Grant 
that whenever my spirit is weak and faint, 
it may rest in child-like confidence on the 
knowledge that "It is finished!'^ In all 
actings and efforts of faith alone may I re- 
member tliat my doings have no share in 
my salvation, and are nothing worth, for 
"It is finished r'' Let this be the anchor 
of my hope in death, so that no storms may 
move me until I enter into the harbor of a 



1 Col. xi. 14. 




14* 




162 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



blessed Eternity, where alone I can praise 
Thee aright for Thy finished work ; and, as 
Thy work of Redemption is perfect, so do 
Thou carry on that good work which Thou 
hast begun in my heart. ^ Do Thou perfect 
that which concerneth me, and forsake 
not the work of Thine own hands. ^ Do 
Thou take away all hindrances in me, bring 
good out of the evil within me, beat down 
Satan under my feet, redeem me from all 
iniquity as well as guilt, and carry on the 
work of Thy Spirit within, until Thou canst 
say, It is finished!''^ Until Thou canst 
23resent me faultless before Thy Father ! 

All is finished, do not doubt it, 
But believe your dying Lord ; 

Never reason more about it. 
Only take Him at His word. 



1 Phil. i. 6. 



2 Ps. cxxxviii. 8. 



THE TWENTY-FIRST HOUR. 



163 



FOURTH MEDITATION. 

Now for the last time Thou didst open 
Thine ever blessed lips, and criest with a 
loud voice, Father, into Thy hands I com- 
mend my Spirit! " Now again I hear the 
sweet word ''Father" from Thy mouth; a 
sure proof that Thou hadst fulfilled all his 
wdll ; that Thine obedience and Thine atone- 
ment were perfect, and that Thou couldest 
once more address Him as Thy Father. It 
is only when clothed in Thy righteousness 
that I can or may call on God as my Fa- 
ther. Thou hast broken down the wall 
between me and my God ; Thou hast made 
peace between us, and the rebellious enemy ^ 
is made a child through Thee. In dying, 
Lord, Thy soul was Thine only care ; 
may it be so with me ! As our Head Thou 
didst die upon the Cross, as our Head Thou 
didst commend Thy soul unto the Father ; 

1 Rom. V. 10. 



164 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT, 



grant that we may die with Thee, and rise 
with Thee, and may I die in peace and joy, 
knowing that my sonl was commended with 
Thine into Thy Father's hands ! During 
Thy life Thou wert ever " about Thy Fa- 
ther's business," and in death Thou givest 
up all to Him ; so in life be Thou ever with 
us, that in Death we may be with Thee. 
And, as I know not when my hour may be, 
I noiD commit my soul into Thy hands, for 
I am not safe for a moment until I am hid- 
den in Thy wounds, Thy heart. Thy grace, 
and Thy Love ! 

Thy last words were a cry of Victory ! 
The outward and inward darkness was over ! 
Thy Father again manifested Himself unto 
Thee full of grace and love, even the last 
of Thine enemies was conquered ; and Thou 
wert about to exchange the Cross for Thine 
Heavenly kingdom ! Yet it Avas also a cry 
of anguish, for the sting of Death was not 
yet broken, his last dart was just shot at 



THE TWENTY-FIRST HOUR. 165 



Thee, and then Thou didst bow Thy Head 
and gavest up Thy Spirit ! How can I look 
at Thee enough, my Saviour Redeemer, 
bruised for my Sins ! 

Behold that pale, that languid form, 

That drooping head, those cold, dull eyes ! 

Behold, in sorrow and disgrace. 

Our conquering Hero hangs and dies. 

Ye that assume His sacred name, 

Now tell me, what can all this mean ? 

What was it bruised God's harmless Lamb ? 
What was it pierced His soul, but sin ? 

Blush, Christian, blush, let shame abound, 

If sin affects thee not with woe ; 
Whatever spirit 's in thee found. 

The spirit of Christ thou dost not know. 



Thou didst die /or sinners , for the un- 
godly, for enemies, ^ wondrous Love ! 
Thou didst die ivillingly ! Thou didst lay 
down Thy life freely, for no man could take 

3 Rom. V. 6—10. 

OU) 



166 



THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



it from Thee. It was a free-will offering 
for us. Thou didst die painfully^ full of 
wounds and stripes ; shamefully^ upon the 
Accursed Tree. Thou didst die a bloody 
death ! The Sun of Eighteousness set in 
blood. Thou didst die according to the 
will of Thy Father. ^ Thou didst die inno- 
cently as the Lamb without blemish, being 
made Sin for us, yet knowing no sin of 
Thine own.^ and, therefore, Thou didst die 
meritoriously. By Thy life, suffering, and 
death. Thou didst purchase everlasting life 
for all who believe on Thee ! Thou didst 
die victoriously^ and in Thee we are more 
than conquerors ! " Thy death, like Thy 
birth and life, was ivonderfull Wonders 
of wisdom, of righteousness, and holiness, 
of Almighty Power, and of redeeming love, 
are visible to the eye of Faith in every mo- 
ment of Thy life and death ! my dying 
Saviour and Intercessor, 

1 Acts ii. 23. 2 2 Cor. v. 21. 




THE TWENTY-FIRST HOUR. 



167 



Let us with a steadfast faith, 
Yiew our dear incarnate God, 

Shudd'ring in the pangs of death, 
Bowed beneath our nature's load ! 

Make our union with Thee clear, 

Perfect love, and cast out fear ! 

Let us trust Thee evermore. 
Every moment on Thee call. 

For new life, new will, new power ; 
Let us trust Thee, Lord, for all, 

May we nothing know beside 

Jesus, and Him crucified ! 

FIFTH MEDITATION. 



Now, Lord, let me receive life from 
Thy death ! If it were not for that, I must 
all my life through fear of death be subject 
to bondage. ^ As Thou didst willingly die 
for me, make me willing to die wdien it 
pleases Thee. Suffer me not to live my 
i life unto death," but to offer it up to 



1 Heb. ii. 15. 




168 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 

Thee daily, and this, not out of weariness 
of the worid, or impatience under sorrow 
or suffering, but out of strong desire to be 
with Thee, to be like Thee, to see and know 
Thee even as I am known. May the re- 
membrance of Thy death be my comfort 
in all time of trial ; may the memory of 
Thy sorrows work patience in me, and make 
me ashamed of complaint, and still more of 
discontent ! The 116th Psalm says, Pre- 
cious in the sight of the Lord is the death 
of His Saints ; " and surely this is only on 
account of Thine. May my death be pre- 
cious in the sight of the Lord for the sake 
of Thy shameful death ! If I die despised | 
and forsaken by the world, what ynll it | 
matter if I am precious to Thee ? If I die | 
in my bed, loved and esteemed, let me re- | 
member how Thou didst purchase these | 
blessings for me ! | 

Thine was a bloody death, for with- 
out shedding of blood there is no remis- 



THE TWENTY-FIRST HOUR. 



169 



sion.^ Now washed in Thy blood I am 
free ; " neither death^ nor life, nor angels, 
I nor principalities, nor powers, nor things 
present, nor things to comOj, nor height, 
nor depth, nor any other creature, shall 
be able to separate us from the love of God, 
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." ^ 

Empty and bare I come to Thee 

For Righteousness divine ; 
O may Thy matchless merits be 

By imputation mme ! 

and clothed in Thy Righteousness I shall 
die victoriously and cry, " Death, where 
is thy sting? Grave, where is thy vic- 
tory ? " And whatever be the manner of 
my death, let this suffice, that it is accord- 
ing to Thy will ! And as Thou knowest my 
great weakness — do Thou comfort and en- 
courage me ; be with me when I cross the 
dark swelling waters of Jordan ; hold Thou 

1 Heb. ix. 22. 2 Rom. viii. 5-5—59. 



170 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 

me up and I shall be safe. By Thy own 
death, grant me living faith, lively hope, 
strong love : 

Say Thou art mine, and chase the gloom, 
Thick hanging o'er the vale of Death ; 

Then shall I, fearless, meet my doom, 
And as a victor yield my breath. , 



FROM THREE TO FOUR FRIDAY AFTERNOON, 



MEDITATION. 

Who will see the Lamb of God before 
His Burial, must come to Calvary at this 
hour. "What wonders happened at His 
Death ! The veil of the Temple was rent, 
" the earth did quake, and the rocks rent ; 
and the graves were opened, and many bod- 
ies of the saints which slept, arose, and 
came out of the graves after his resurrec- 
tion, and went into- the Holy City and ap- 
peared unto many."^ The centurion who 
was by the Cross, and others, when they 
saw what was done, feared greatly, and con- 
fessed that this was the Son of God. The 
friends of Jesus and many pious Brethren 

1 Matt, xxvii. 51—53. 



172 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



saw the death of the Prince of Life ; but 
one pierced His side with a spear, and there 
came out Blood and Water. Arise, my Soul, 
and through the grace of Jesus profit by 
this hour. Let His image sink deep into 
thy heart ; up, and delay not ; go the Cross.^ 



PRAYER. 

Now, Thou Saviour, perfected by suf- 
fering. Thou hadst committed Thy Spirit 
into Thy Father's hands ! Thou didst rest 
from thy labors, and Thy works did follow 
Thee ! We are the work of Thy hands. 
Thy purchased people, whom Thou wilt 
never leave nor forsake ; for to our great 
and endless comfort Thou hast declared, 
" Father, I will that they also whom Thou 
hast given me, be with Me where I am."^ 

1 Matt, xxvii. 51—56; Mark xv. 38—41; Luke xxiii. 
47—49; John xix. 34. 

2 John xvii. 24. 





THE TWENTY-SECOND HOUR. 



173 



What songs of praise must have resounded 
through the courts of Heaven when Thy 
freed Spkit arrived with the spoils of vic- 
tory. Thousand-fold praise must have been 
ascribed to Thee, by the holy angels and by 
Thine elect ! And thus, Lord Jesus, 
grant that my soul may be received with 
joy, when it departs from the body, that so 
I may be forever with Thee, my Lord ! 

The signs and wonders which accom- 
panied Thy death, manifested how precious 
it was in Thy Father's sight ! The veil of 
the temple was rent in twain ! Formerly 
it hid the Holy of Holies, but now it was 
no more needed ; for by one offering Thou 
didst obtain eternal redemption for us, and 
by Thy blood the meanest believer has lib- 
erty to enter into the Holiest. " Let us, 
therefore, come boldly to the throne of 
grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find 
grace to help in the time of need." ^ 



1 Heb. iv. 16. 




174 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 

The earth quaked at the death of her 
Creator! Ah, Lord Jesus! all creation is 
more easily moved at Thy death than they 
for whom Thou didst give Thyself! 
shame ! that I have so often read, heard, 
and meditated of Thy death, while my 
heart remained cold and untouched ! Ah ! 
warm this cold and indifferent heart with 
the fire of Thy love, that I may love Thee 
because Thou hast first loved me ! 

Graves were opened, and many bodies of 
saints arose, to show how our life is bound 
up with Thine, and how we triumph in 
Thee ! May those who are spiritually dead 
be awakened by Thy death ! may they come 
out of the depths of sin wherein they lie 
buried, and walk in newness of life ! 

The rocks were rent ! Thou hast rent 
the stony hearts of many ; show forth Thy 
power on those of thousands ! Break uj), 
Lord Jesus ! all the stony ground that 
yet remains in my heart ! Take away the 



THE TWENTY-SECOJ^D HOUR. 175 

heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh ! 
Let me be as clay in Thy hand, that Thou 
mayest fashion me as Thou wilt ! 

But men too felt the power of Thy death, 
for the centurion glorified God, saying, 
''Certainly this was a righteous man!" 

Truly this was the Son of God ! " and all 
the people " beholding the things which 
were done, smote their breasts and re- 
turned." Lord Jesus ! grant that Thy 
atoning death may work the same miracle 
in the hearts of many to the glory of God 
and to their eternal salvation! 



SECOND MEDITATION. 



Now, my Saviour ! Thy Spirit had 
entered into rest, but thy tortured body 
still hung on the Cross ! Thy side is 
pierced by a spear, and thereout comes 
blood and water. Thou gavest us the last 
drop of Thy Blood ! 



176 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



May the water and blood 

From tliy riven side whicli flowed, 

Be of sin the double cure ! 

Save me from its guilt and power. 



The Blood and Water are represented by 
the two Sacraments of the new Covenant, 
Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Ah, let 
me come to this fountain and drink freely ! 
May the water of the Holy Spirit cleanse 
me from dead works to serve Thee, the liv- 
ing God ! Do Thou fulfil Thine own prom- 
ise, Then will I sprinkle clean water upon 
you, and ye shall be clean : from all your 
filthiness, and from all your idols, will I 
cleanse you. A new heart also will I give 
you.^ and a new spirit will I put within you ; 
and I will take away the stony heart out 
of your flesh. And I will give you a heart 
! of flesh, and I will put my spirit within 
you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, 
and ye shall keep my judgments and do 



THE TWEXTY-SECOXD HOUR. 



177 



I tliem."^ Do Thou wash me, and make me 
I white in Thy blood, Thou Lamb of God ! 
; Thy blood is the true Pool of Bethesda, 
I having five porches, that is. Thy five wounds ! 
But how much more anxious are men for a 
bodily rather than a spiritual cure. The 
Pool of Bethesda was only troubled once a 
I year, and only one person was healed. The 
\ fountain of Thy blood is ever ready, and 
there is room for all who come. How many 
million Sinners have come near Thy Cross, 
and might have been saved, if there had 
only been something that they themselves 
could do. Oh, make me wise by the loss 
of others, and teach me that, like the man 
- who had an infirmity thirty-and-eight years, 
I must be jmt into the pool. - Unless Thy 
Good Spirit leads and carries me, I shall 
never enter therein. Ah ! may a great 
I multitude come to this fountain, and be 
made wliole ! 

1 Ezelv. xxxvi. 2-5—27. 2 John v. 7. 



178 THE GREi^T DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



There is a fountain filled with Llood 
Drawn from Immanuel's veins ; 

And sinners plunged beneath that flood 
Lose all their guilty stains. 

Dear, dying Lamb ! Thy precious blood 

Shall never lose its power, 
Till all the ransom'd Church of God 

Be saved to die no more. 

THIRD MEDITATION. 

Then, my Saviour, Thy sacred body 

was taken down from the Cross. But first 

let me consider the insight given us into 

Thy heart, laid open for us ; do Thou anoint 

mine eyes that I may see somewhat of the 

depths of Thy love ! Thy heart was that 

of a friend that sticketh closer than a 

brother." Thou didst become a surety for 

us when Thou didst deign to call us Thy 

friends, and truly ^ greater love hath no 
« 

1 John XV. 13. 



THE TWENTY-SECOND HOUR. 



179 



man than this, that a man lay down his life 
for his friends." 

Thine is a Brother^ s heart ; Thou art 
the brother born for adversity ! " Thoii art 
flesh of our flesh, bone of our bone, Thou 
wert in all things made like unto Thy breth- 
ren, and wert not ashamed to bestow that 
sweet title upon sinners, whom Thou hast 
made heirs of salvation,^ heirs of God and 
joint-heirs with Christ." ^ 

Thine is a Father'^ s heart ; as a tender 
father does all he can for the welfare of his 
children, so dost Thou, day and night. 
Thou dost provide for us, and draw us unto 
Thyself. As a father pitieth his children, 
so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him ; " 
and as a Father chasteneth his children, so 

whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and 
scourge th every son whom He receiveth." 
He doetli it ''for our profit, that we might 
be partakers of His holiness."^ Thine is 

1 Heb. i. 14. 2 Rom. viii. 17. 3 Hcb. xii. 6—10. 



180 THE GREAT DAY OF AT0NEM;ENT. 

the heart of a Faithful Shepherd! Thou 
leadest Thy sheep in green pastures and 
beside the still waters ; and if one wanders. 
Thou seekest him and bringest him back 
rejoicing. 

Green pastures and clear streams, 

Freedom and quiet rest, 
Christ's flock enjoy beneath his beams, 

Or in His shadow blest. 

Conflicts and trials done, 

His glory they behold, 
Where Jesus and His flock are one, 

One shepherd and one fold. 

Lord Jesus, Thy heart is more than that 
of a Mother! "Can a woman forget her 
sucking child, that she should not have 
compassion on the son of her womb ? yea 
they may forget, yet will I not forget 
Thee.^ This is Thine own promise to 
Thy Church. 

1 Psalm xlix. 15. 





THE TWENTY-SECOIS^D HOUR. 



181 



Above all, Lord, Thine is a Saviour^ s 
hea-rt, — " My son" or my daughter give 
me thine heart" — Lord, take it I May 
I liave one heart and one mind with Thee ! 
unite me to Thyself and then neither 
death, nor life, nor angels, nor principali- 
ties, nor powers, nor things present, nor 
things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor 
any other creature, shall be able to separate 
us from the love of God which is in Christ 
Jesus our Lord." ^ 



1 Rom. Yiii. 38, 39. 




16 




FROM FOUR TO FIVE FRIDAY AFTERIJOON. 



MEDITATION. 

At this hour they made preparations for 
the Burial of Jesus. His Heavenly Father 
had appointed an honorable grave for the 
martyred body of His only begotten Son, 
and, therefore, caused Joseph, a rich man 
of Arimathea and moreover " a good man 
and a just,'' ^ who hitherto had been only a 
secret disciple, to beg the body of Jesus ! 
Pilate gave it him, and he wrapped it in a 
linen cloth, while Nicodemus " brought a 
mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hun- 
dred pound weight." ^ Then took they 
the body of Jesus, and wound it in lin- 
en clothes with the spices, as the man- 



1 Luke xxiii. 50. 



2 John xix. 39. 




THE TWENTY-THIRD HOUR. 



•183 



iier of the Jews is to biiiy." They thus 
showed their love to Jesus, and put many 
others to shame. Up, my soul, and follow 
their example ! Thy gracious Saviour loved 
thee even unto death ; come boldly forward 
and acknowledge Him in spite of danger 
and disgrace. ^ 



Lord Jesus, enable me by Thy grace to 
spend this hour near to Thee ! Lord, how 
wert Thou despised and neglected ! When 
a man dies, his friends usually prepare him 
at once for burial ; but Thou didst hang 
upon the Cross. Any one could have had 
Thee by asking, but none longed for Thee ! 
Pilate knew not that Thou wert dead ; and 
they who knew it, cared not for it, and had 
left Thee ; and so is it now with numbers. 

None drew out the nails, or washed away 



PRAYER. 



1 Mark xv. 42, 43; John xix. 39. 





184 THE GREAT Dx\Y OF ATONEMENT. 

the blood, or took Thee down from the 
Cross ! Let me, in Spu^it, wash and anoint 
Thy Holy form with the spices of repent- 
ance, faith, and love ! Let me wrap Thee 
in the fine linen of Thine own righteous- 
ness, which Thou hast given me ; for I 
have nothing pure and clean of my own ; 
even my best works are defiled with sin ! 
What I do in spirit, Joseph and Nicodemus 
did in reality. Tliey had hitherto been 
secret disciples, but they gained courage | 
and strength at the Cross to confess Thee 
openly ! It required courage ; for it is 
said, Joseph went in '-^holdbjy^ Joseph 
had much to lose ; he was a rich man, 
and a councillor ; but he waited for the 
Kingdom of God," and he was thus raised 
above earthly fears. He begged for Thy 
Body ; he received it as a gift ; and thus 
may I receive Thee ! Give me such love to 
Thee that I may say, with Asaph, Whom i 



1 Mark xv. 43. 



THE TWEXTY-THIRD HOUR. 185 



have I in Heaven but Thee? and there is 
none upon earth that I desire beside Thee." 
The love of these two timid disciples now 
broke forth, and put to shame that of those 
who had heretofore openly acknowledged 
Thee. Oh, Lord Jesus ! when will the time 
come that the fear of man will be dead 
within me ? and when my love will burst 
forth and overpower all restraints ! 



Shall I, for fear of sinful man, 
The Spirit's course in me restrain ? 
Or, undismayed in deed or Tvord, 
Be a true witness to my Lord ? 

Shall I, to soothe the unholy throng, 
Soften Thy truths and smooth my tongue ? 
To gain earth's gilded toys, or flee 
The Cross endured, my God, by Thee ! 



Lord, Thou hast done such great things 
for me, that my love ought to exceed that 
of all others ! But, alas ! Thou knowest 

Hi* v^O 



186 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



how many there are whose love overpasses 
and excels mine ! 

O that my heart was right with Thee, 
And loved Thee with a perfect love ! 
O that my Lord would dwell in me. 
And never from my soul remove I 
Jesus, apply Thy pardoning blood, 
And make this bosom fit for God ! 

Lord, make me feel my coldness and in- 
difference towards Thee ! Make me mourn 
for it, and hate it ; and do Thou, of Thy 
great mercy, take it away, and fill my heart 
with love to Thee ! Lord Jesus, may Thy 
preparation for the grave sanctify mine ! 
Thou didst die so poor, that Thou hadst 
nothing left to bury Thee, and thus hast 
Thou sanctified the poverty of Thy mem- 
bers, many of whom are in the same pov- 
erty. And if I should not die so poor, yet, 
if I am in Thy company, it matters not. 
Joseph and Nicodemus spent much on 



THE TWENTY-THIRD HOUR. 



187 



Thee ; may I do the same on Thy poor 
members ; and do Thou root covetous- 
ness, which is the root of all evil," out of 
my heart. So be it. Lord ! 

Let me love Thee more and more, 

If I love at all, I pray ; 
If I have not loved before, 

Help me to begin to-day I 



%\n %\at\\t^-imxi\ four. 



FROM FIVE TO SIX FRIDAY AFTERNOON. 



MEDITATION. 

This was the hour of the Burial of Our 
Glorious Redeemer ! He liad no sepulchre 
of His own ! As in life, He had not where 
to lay His head, so it was in death ! Yet 
He must be honorably buried, to prove the 
reality of His death, to hallow our graves, 
and for His own honor ! " Now, in the 
place where He was crucified, there was a 
garden, and in the garden a new sepulchre 
hewn in the rock, wherein was never man 
yet laid : " there they laid the body of Je- 
sus, for the Sabbath drew nigh. The chief 
priests and pharisees made the sepulchre 
sure ; sealing tlie great stone whicli was 
rolled to the door, and settino; a watch, 



I 

THE TWENTY-FOURTH HOUR. 189 



" lest His disciples should come in the night 
and steal Him away." ; 

Let lis learn all that the burial of Jesus i 
is meant to teach us. ^ 

PRAYER. 

Thou slain Lamb of God, that takest 
away the Sins of the World, so Thou wovt 
carried to Thy grstve ! Let me go and see 
where my Lord lay ! Thy grave was in a 
garden ! Li a garden sin began, in a garden 
it was buried ; in a garden sentence of death 
was pronounced upon us ; in a garden Thou 
didst lie dead under that sentence ! Ah, 
grant that whenever I am in a garden, I 
may profit by meditating on Thine agony 
in the Garden of Olives, on Thy burial in 
Joseph's garden, and on my own grave. 
Thou wert laid in a stranger's grave, be- 



1 Matt, xxvii. 57—66; Mark xv. 42 — 47: Luke xxiii. 
50—56; John xix. 38—42. 



190 



THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



cause Thou liadst nothing of Thine own 
either in life or in death. May Thy wil- 
ling poverty make me eternally rich. " It 
behooved Him in all things to be made like 
unto His brethren," even in His burial. 
And, most Holy One, how hast Thou 
sanctified the graves of Thy people ! 



Why should we tremble to convey 

Their relics to the tomb ? 
There the Redeemer's body lay, 

And left a long perfume. 
The graves of all His saints He bless'd, 

And soften'd every bed. 
Where should the dying members rest 

But with their dying head ? 



Thy weary limbs, that had suffered and 

toiled so much for me, and for my sins, now | 

rested awhile from their labors ; but even i 

in death, Lord, be Thou my life ! I enter j 



by faith into Thy grave, as Moses did into 






THE TWENTY-FOURTH HOUR. 



191 



thick darkness where God was."^ There I 
may pour out all my complaints and all my 
desires before Thee. There will I anoint 
Thee with tears of repentance, faith, and 
love, and offer unto Thee the sacrihce of 
thanksgiving for Thy saving faithfulness ! 
There will I adore Thee, " Thou fairest 
among the children of men! " Thy body 
is at rest. It seems as if it was doing noth- 
ing for me — but it is the rest after victory : i 
a rest showing that all is done — all is won ; \ 
a rest which sanctifies the last resting-place 
of our bodies. 

Now the grave 's a downy bed 



All our sins were laid upon the head of 
the Lamb slain from the foundation of 

1 Exodus XX. 21. 



Embroider'd round with blood. 



Say not the behever 's dead 
He only rests in God. 





192 THE GREAT DAY OF ATOXE:MENrT. 

the world," who died to make an end of 
sins, and to make reconciliation for iniqui- 
ty, and to bring in everlasting righteous- 
ness;"-^ and now ''the iniquity of Israel 
shall be sought for, and there shall be none ; 
and the sins of Judah, and they shall not 
be found ; ^ for they are all blotted out by 
the blood of Christ. 



SECOND MEDITATION. 



my Saviour ! suffer me never to nour- 
ish sin, which brought Thee to Thy grave. 
Didst Thou suffer so much to destroy it, 
and shall I foster or encourage it, either in 
myself or others ! May I be buried with 
Thee and made a partaker of Thy death ; 
may my old nature be crucified ivith Thee, 
that the body of sin may be destroyed, that 
henceforth I should not serve sin, but rather 

die unto sin that I may live unto God ! 

1 Dan. ix. 24. Jer. 1. 20. 



THE TWENTY-FOURTH HOUR. 193 



May I ''walk in newness of life;" ^ may 
my life be hid in Tliee — be Thou my life ! 
Thou art the tree of Life ; feed me wdth, 
the fruits thereof! Thy grave is the '' field 
wherein a treasure was hid ; " ^ let me 
I ''count all things but loss so that I may 
I win Thee and be found in Thee, not having 
I mine own righteousness, which is of the law, 
1 but that which is through the faith of Christ, 
i the righteousness w-hich is of God by faith. ^ 
I Thy grave was an honorable one, as said 
I the Prophet, " His rest shall be glorious." ^ 
j And, lastly, it was an e7npt// grave, for 
i Thou didst burst the bonds of Death, be- 
i cause it w^as not possible that Thou should- 
1 est be holden by them. " Thou didst ascend 
up on high, and lead captivity captive, and 
didst receive rifts for men." 

I 

i Lord, do Thou make my lieart Thy rest- 
I ing-place 1 Empty it of all that is displeas- 

i 
I 

! 1 Rom. vi. 2 Matt. xiii. 44. 

I 3 Phil. iii. 8, 9. ^ Isa. xi. 10. 



194 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 

ing to Thee ; make it new. ^ Thou say- 
est, Behold ! I make all things new : " 
make me a new creature by Thy Holy 
Spirit ! ^ Grant that there may ever be a | 

Sabbath in my soul, a peace which is the i 

i 

foretaste of that rest which remaineth for : 
the People of God!^ What a tumult do ! 
my perverted affections, fancies, desires, | 
and thouglits often raise within me ! How | 
do my inward foes rage ! Truly, I am too i 
often like a troubled sea, when it cannot 
rest ; whose waters cast up mire and dirt." * 
Do Thou of Thy great mercy awake within 
me, and say, Peace ! be still I " May Thy 
name be as ointment, to preserve my soul 
from sin. Do Thou fashion me for Thyself I 
Keep my heart from all sin I Deliver my 
imder standing from the power of darkness ; 
my will from slavish fear and from discon- 
tent ; my memory from all forgctfulncss of 

1 Ezek. xviii. 31. 2 o Cor. v. 5; Gal. vi. 15. 

- Hcl). vi. 9. 4 Isaiah Ivii. 20. 



THE TWENTY-FOURTH HOUR. 195 



Thy love and Thy will! Preserve my af- | 
fections from all uprisings of sin, my incli- 
nations and desires from aiming at aught 
but Thee! Keep my thoughts from wan- i 
dering ; my senses from all excess, and all 
attachment to earthly things ; and my mem- 
bers from being instruments of unrighteous- ' 
ness ! Do Thou foster and cherish whatever | 
seeds of grace Thou hast sown in me. Yea, ! 
do Thou keep me to a glorious eternity ! 



THIRD MEDITATION. 

And now, my Redeemer, how can I 
praise Thee sufficiently for the unspeakable 
wonders of Thy love, especially those which 
Thou didst manifest during the four-and- 
twenty hours I have been meditating on. 
How can I thank Thee for the great work 
of Redemption, for Thy holy and meritori- 
ous life from the manger to the grave, for 
Thy covenant of grace, for Tliy surety- 



19G THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



ship, for Tliy doings, and sufferings, for 
Thine atoning and mediatoral death and 
burial I Ah ! Lord Jesus, all is so great, so 
wondrous, so infinitely precious, so indis- 
pensable to my salvation, that here below I 
need the strength of Thy Holy Spirit, and 
above I need a sinless eternity to enable me 
to praise and glorify Thee aright I 

Hail, thou once despised Jesus ! 

Hail, thou Galilean King! 
Thou didst suffer to release us, 

Thou didst free salvation bring. 
Hail, thou agonizing Saviour, 

Bearer of our sin and shame ; 
By Thy merits we find favor. 

Life is given through Thy name. 

Paschal Lamb, by God appointed, 
All our sins on Thee were laid ; 

By Almighty Love anointed, 
Thou hast full atonement made. 



— -- — m 




(no 



THE TWEXTY-FOURTH HOUR. 



107 



All Thy people are forgiven 

Through the virtue of Thv blood, 

Open'cl is the gate of heaven, 

Peace is made 'twixt man and God. 



Jesus, hail ! enthroned in glory. 

There forever to abide, 
All the heavenly hosts adore Thee, 

Seated at Thy Father's side ; 
There for sinners Thou art pleading, 

There Thou dost oifr place prepare ; 
Ever for us interceding 

Till in glory we appear. 

Worship, honor, power, and blessing. 

Thou art worthy to receive : 
Loudest praises w^ithout ceasing, 

Meet it is for us to give : 
Help, ye bright angelic spirits ! 

Bring your sweetest, noblest lays ; 
Help to sing our Saviour's merits. 

Help to chant Immanuel's praise ! 



Glory be unto Thee, Lord, for Thy 
mysterious and miraculous birth, for every 



198 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



hour of Thy life, every paiig of Thy death! 
Glory he unto Thee for Thine undeserved 
grace and mercy to me, a sinner! Glory 
be unto Thee, for the unsearchable depths 
of Thy Avisdom and love ! ^ Glory and 
praise be to Thee for having borne my 
sins : Lord, I bless and praise Thy sacred 
lips for all the instruction, all the comfort, 
all the prayers, they did utter! I bless 
Thee for the mockery, the scorn, the blows. 
Thou didst endure ! I bless Thee for hear- 
ing my cry, and answering my prayer ! Ah 
Lord ! forgive me for offering such thanks, 
so feeble, so imperfect, so spotted with sin ! 
Do Thou glorify Thyself in me ! Teach 
me to bless Thee aright, for Thy Holy Gos- 
pel, for the good news of salvation by free 
grace, which God, the Father, offers to all, 
through and in Thee ! 

Do Thou of Thy great mercy, wasli me, 
and all readers of this little book, in Thine 

1 Rom. xi. 33; Epli. ix. 8. 



THE twenty-fourth: hour. 



199 



own blood I May it be blessed to those who 
read, and lead many to glorify Thee and 
Thy saving Love I 

And now, Thou slain Lamb of God, 
hear my prayer for all whom I love, and 
for myself I 

Grant that closer we may cleave 
To Thy bleeding, dying breast ; 

Give us firmly to believe, 
And to enter into rest. 
I Lord, increase, increase our faith, 

Make us faithful unto death. 

Let us with a steadfast faith 

View our dear, incarnate God, 
Shudd'ring in the pangs of death, 
Bow'd beneath our nature's load J 
j Make our union with Thee clear, 

i Perfect love, and cast out fear. 

Let us trust Thee evermore, 

Ev'ry moment on Thee call 
For new life, new will, new pow'r. 

Let us trust Thee, Lord of all ! 



200 THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT. 



May we nothing know beside 
Jesus, and Him crucified ! 

Lord Jesus, God manifest in the flesh, ^ 
Glorify Thyself! 



1 1 Tim. iii. 16. 



VALUABLE WORKS 

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VALUABLE A¥ORKS. 



THE SUFFERIXCt SAVIOUR ; or, Meditations on thi? 
Last Days of Chuist. By Fred. ^y. Krummacher, D.D., Chap- 
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LAST HUNDKED YEARS. By T. F. Curtis, Professor of Theol- 
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improved edition. 12iiio, clotli, $1,00. 

ssr A work for every Christian. It is indeed a " Treasury" of good things. 

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with our own for ten times the cost of it. — Congregationulist. 

Materials for reflection and meditation, designed for the Christian in his daily walk 
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ent at conveying much important truth in a few words. It is an admirable work 
worthy to be read by every Christian and studied by every minister. — Du. SritAGfii, 
Albany Atlas 

A useful evangelical volume, designed to assist Christians in the work of daily 
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A grand work for the centre table of every Christian, or for the most private place, 
where they hold communion with the Invisible- — Albam) Cli. Spectator. 

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profitable meditation, — Phil. Ch. Chronicle, 

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well to feed daily on such spiritual food, — N. Y. Observer. 

A treasure, indeed, to any one who will study its daily lessons, Ch. Index. 

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young minister " If yon have not seen ' Thomas a Kr,„in.<: I Ix - yon to procure it. 
For spirituaiity and weanedness from the world. I h innr ,,r ,i<>tlmi<j i qmd to it." 

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IMPORTANT NEW WORKS. 



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Bayne, a. M. 12mo, cloth. $1.25. 

Contents. Part I. — Statement. The Individual Life ; the Social Life. Part 
IL — ExposiiiON AND Illusxkation. First Principles ; Howard, and the rise of 
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Christian Freeman ; the social problem of the age, and one or two hints towards its 
solution ; jNIodern Doubt ; John Foster ; Thomas Arnold ; Thomas Chalmers. Part 
Til. — Outlook. The Positive Philosophy ; Pantheistic Spiritualism. 

Particular attention is invited to this work. Its recent publication in Scotland pro- 
iuced a great sensation. Hugh Miller made it the subject of an elaborate review in 
his paper, the Edinburgh " Witness," and gave his readers to understand that it was 
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ious book of the season." Strikingly original in plan and brilliant in execution, it far 
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bold onslaught (and the tirst of the kind) upon the Pantheism of Carlyle, Fichte, etc., 
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Budgett, Foster, Chalmers, etc. The brilliancy and vigor of the author's style are 
remarkable. 

PATRIARCHY ; or, The Family : its Constitution and 
Probation. By Jojm Harris, D. D., President of " New College," 
London, and author of "The Great Teacher," "Mammon," etc. 
12mo, cloth. $1.25. 

The public are here presented with a work on a subject of universal interest, by 
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oi'the present time. 

This is the third and last of a series, by the same author, entitled *' Contributions 
to Theological Science." The plan of this series is highly original, and tiius far has 
been most successfully executed. Of the first two in the series, " Pre- Adamite 
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" The present age has not produced his superior as an original, stirring, elegant 
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into the Hindostanee tongue. (no) 



IMPORTANT WORK. 



KITTO'S POPULAR CYCLOPv^:DIA OF BIBLICAL 

LITERATURE. Condensed from tlie larger work. By the Autlior, 
John KiTTO, D. D., Autlior of Scripture Daily Readinirs," <fcc. As- 
sisted by James Taylor, D. D. With over 500 Illustrations. 3,00. 

This work is designed to furnish a Dictio.vaey of the Bible, embodying the 
products of the best and most recent researches in biblical Mterature, in which the 
scholars of Europe and America hare been engaged. The work, the result of im- 
mense labor and research, is pronounced, by universal consent, the best work of its 
class extant. It is not only intended for ministers and theological students, but is also 
particularly adapted to parents. Sabbath school teachers, and the great body of the re- 
ligious public. The illustrations, amounting to more than 300, are of the highest order. 
A condensed view of the various topics comprehended in the work. 

1. Biblical Criticism, — Embracing the History of the Bible Languages ; Can- 
on of Scripture ; Literary History and Peculiarities of the Sacred Books ; Formatiou 
and History cf Scripture Texts. 

2. History, — Proper Kames of Persons; Biographical Sketches of prominent 
Characters ; Detailed Accounts of important Events recorded in Scripture ; Chronol- 
ogy and Genealogy of Scripture. 

8. Geography, — Names of Places; Description of Scenery; Boundaries and Mu- 
tual Relations of the Countries mentioned in Scripture, so far as necessary to illus- 
trate the Sacred Text. 

4. ARCii.roLOGY, — Manners and Customs of the Jews and other nations men- 
tioned in Scripture ; their Sacred Institutions, Military Affairs, Political Arrange- 
ments, Literary and Scientific Pursuits. 

o. Physical Sciexce,— Scripture Cosmogony and Astronomy, Zoology, Min- 
eralogy, Botany, Meteorology. 

In addition to numerous flattering notices and reviews, personal letters from ji 
large number of the most distinguished Ministers and Laymen ofd!,firn,t rrJif/inns d<-- 
v.ominations in the country have been received, highly commending this work as ad. 
mirably adapted to ministers, Sabbath school teachers, heads of families, and (dl 
Bible students. 

The following extract of a letter is a fair specimen of individual letters received 
•fecm each of the gentlemen whose names are given below : — 

*'I have examined it with special and unalloyed satisfaction. It has the rare merit 
being all that it professes to be; and very few, I am sure, Avho may consult it will 
Sleny that, in richness and fulness of detail, it surpasses their expectation. iMar.y 
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'v?ho are engaged in the important business of bibUcal education. It is in itself a li- 
bn'ary of reliable information." 

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p. D., Hartford, Ct. ; Daniel Sharp, D. D., Boston; N. L. Frothingham, D. D., Bos- 
ton; Ephraim Peabody, D. D., Boston ; A. L. Stone. Boston ; John S. Stone, D. I)., 
Brooklyn ; J. B. Waterbury, D. D., Boston ; Baron Stow, D. D., Boston ; Thomas II. 
f kinncr, D. D., New York ; Samuel W. Worcester, D. D., Salem ; Horace Bushnell. 
r. D., Hartford, Ct. : Right Reverend J. M. AVainwright, D. D., New York : (Jnnlner 
fjprinrr, D. D., New York ; W. T. Dwight, D. D., Portland : E. N. Kirk. Boston ; Prof. 
Georjrc Bush, author of " Notes on the Scriptures." New ^■ork : Howard iVhilcoin, 
D. D.. author of " Bible Dictionary;" Henry J. Kiplev. 1). I)., autlior of " Notes on 
t o ScriF)tures;" N. Porter. Prof, in Yale X> u- 11 .v,m,. Ct..- .Jarcd Snarks, 

I Iward Everett. Theodore Frclinghuyscn. R., lici t (\ Wiiidido. .John McLean. Si- 
:r- n (ireenleaf. Thomas S. AVilliams. - and a lar-c nu;:i!)c r of otliers of like char- 
ctcr and standing of the above, whose names eannot here appear. H 



IMPOETANT WORKS. 

ANALYTICAL CONCORDANCE OF THE HOLY 
SCRIPTURES ; or, The Bible presented under Distinct and Classi- 
fied Heads or Topics. By John Eadie, D. D., LL. D., Author of 
the "Biblical Cyclopaedia," "Dictionary of the Bible," &C.5 &c. 
One volume, royal octavo, 836 pp. Cloth, $3.00; sheep, $3.50. Just 
published. 

The publishers would call the special attention of clergymen to the peculiar 
features of this great work. 

1. It is a concordance of subjects, not of words. In this it ditfers from the com- 
mon concordance, which, of course, it does not supersede. 

2. It embraces all the topics, both secular and religious, which are naturally 
suggested by the entire contents of the Bible. In this it differs from Scripture 
Manuals and Topical Text-books, which are confined to religious or doctrinal topics. 

3. It contains the whole of the Bible without abridgment, differing in no respect 
from the Bible in common use, except in the classification of its contents. 

4. It contains a synopsis, separate from the concordance, presenting within the 
compass of a few pages a bird's-eye view of the whole contents. 

5. It contains a table of contents, embracing nearly two thousand heads, arranged 
in alphabetical order. 

The purchaser gets not only a Concordance, but also a Bible, in this volume. The 
superior convenience arising out of tliis fact, — saving, as it does, the necessity of 
having two books at hand and of making two references, instead of one, — will be 
readily apparent. 

The general subjects (under each of which there are a vast number of sub-divi- 
sions) are arranged as follows, viz. : 

Agriculture,— Animals,— Architecture,— Army,— Arms,— Body,— Canaan,— Cove- 
nant,— Diet and Dress,— Disease and Death,— Earth,— Family,— Genealogy,— God, 
Heaven,— Idolatry, Idols,— Jesus Christ,— Jews,— Laws,— Magistrates,— Man,— Mar- 
riage,— Metals and Minerals, — Ministers of Religion, — Miracles,— Occupations, — 
Ordinances,— Parables andEmblems,— Persecution,— Praise and Prayer,— Prophecy, 
Providence,— Redemption, — Sabbaths and Holy Days,— Sacrifice,— Scriptures, — 
Speech,— Spirits,— Tabernacle and Temple,— Vineyard and Orchard,— Visions and 
Dreams,— War,— "Water. 

It is adapted not only to assist the student in prosecuting the investigation of 
preconceived ideas, but also to impart ideas which the most careful reading of the 
Bible in its ordinary arrangement might not suggest. Let him take up any one of 
the subjects — " Agriculture," for example — and see if such be not the case. 

No Biblical student would willingly dispense with this Concordance when once 
possessed. It is adapted to the necessities of all classes, — clergymen and theo- 
logical students; Sabbath-school superintendents and teachers; authors engaged 
in the composition of religious and even secular works. 

A COMMENTARY ON THE ORIGINAL TEXT OF 
THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. By Horatio B. Hackett. D. D., 
Prof, of Biblical Lit. and Interpretation, Newton Theological Ins. 
DCF'New, revised, and enlarged edition. In Press. 

This most important and very popular work, has been throughly revised 
and considerably enlarged by the introduction of important new matter, the result 
of the Author's continued, laborious investigations since the publication of the first 
edition, aided by the more recent published critcisms of other distinguished Bibli- 
cal Scholars, in this country and in Europe. <y) 




PUBLISHED BY 



OOUT.D AND LINCOT^N, BOSTON. 



THE CIIRISTIAX LIFE, PETER BAYXE, 12mO, 1.25. 

THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST, A. L. R. FOOTE, Ifimo, .50. 

SUFFERING SAVIOUR, FRED. ^Y. KRUMMACHER, D. D., 12niO, 1.25. 

AVREATH AROUXD THE CROSS, A. MORTON BROWN, D. D., 16mO, GO. 

PHILOSOPHY OF THE PLAN OF SALVATION, 12mO, 75. 

THE GREAT TEACHER, JOHN HARRIS, D. D., 12mO, 85. 

IMITATION OF CHRIST, THOMAS A KEMPIS, 12mO, 85. 

lord's prayer, WILLIAM R. WILLIAMS, D. D., 12mO, 85. 

RELIGIOUS progress, WILLIAM R. AVILLIAMS, D. D., 12niO, 85. 

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